Bhubaneswar: Amid the flood threat in Odisha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain for the state with formation of two cyclonic circulations over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) in the next two weeks.
“A cyclonic circulation has formed over eastcentral BoB and adjoining Myanmar coast. It is likely to move towards northwest BoB off Odisha -West Bengal coasts during the first half of the week (September 17 to 23) with subsequent west-northwestward movement across east and central India. There is also a likelihood of development of another cyclonic circulation over eastcentral BoB on September 24 with a near similar pattern of movement as the first one,” the Met office said.
“Probability of cyclogenesis (cyclone formation) is nil over the region till September 29,” it added.
The first cyclonic circulation could move toward the Odisha coast by September 18 and become more well marked in the subsequent two to three days. Under its influence, rainfall activity is likely to increase in Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal with isolated heavy falls from September 18 to 20, it said.
Briefing the media in New Delhi on Thursday, IMD Director-General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said it will start raining from September 18 evening and one or two places in north Odisha districts will experience heavy showers for the next two days – September 19 and 20.
However, this system will not be as severe as the previous one (September 10) as it will not concentrate into a depression and instead pass through north Odisha via Sundargarh as low pressure and move towards Chhattisgarh, he added.
“Under its influence, there will be heavy rainfall of about 7-12 cm at one or two places in Balasore, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Kendrapada, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur,” Mohapatra pointed out.
The fresh cyclonic circulation on the second week (September 24 to 30) is likely to move west-northwestwards and cause a fresh spell of rainfall activity over east and central India commencing from September 25 for the subsequent 4-5 days, the IMD added.