Low-pressure area formed over Bay of Bengal, Odisha on high alert
A low-pressure area was created over the eastcentral Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea due to the upper air cyclonic circulation on Sunday.
According to IMD, the cyclonic circulation observed over the Andaman Sea on Monday, October 21, 2024, has progressed into a low-pressure system and is anticipated to escalate into a cyclonic storm by October 23, potentially affecting the coast of Odisha-West Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department issued a specific statement addressing the development of a low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjacent north Andaman Sea on the morning of Sunday, October 20, 2024, originating from the upper air cyclonic circulation present over the North Andaman Sea and the nearby Bay of Bengal.
The IMD has stated that there is a high probability of it developing into a depression by the morning of October 22, and further strengthening into a cyclonic storm by October 23, in the eastcentral Bay of Bengal.
It has been forecasted that the system will most likely approach the northwest Bay of Bengal near the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal by the morning of October 24.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has instructed fishermen to head back to land by Monday evening and refrain from sailing into the sea until October 26. While the precise location of the cyclone’s landfall, expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 24, remains undisclosed by the IMD, they have shared visual forecasts depicting its potential path. A senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar suggested that there is a high probability of the severe cyclonic storm making landfall along the northern coast of Odisha.
According to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Odisha is expected to face the harshest impact of the cyclonic storm. The cyclone is forecasted to linger longest along the Odisha coast, resulting in intense rainfall ranging from heavy to extremely heavy and powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 100 km/hour.
The meteorological department has predicted light to moderate showers across most areas and heavy rainfall in isolated regions of Odisha on October 23. There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated spots on October 24-25.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised a red alert, urging immediate action due to the forecast of isolated intense to extremely heavy rainfall ranging from 7 to 20 cm, along with sporadic occurrences of rainfall exceeding 20 cm. Additionally, isolated regions in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur districts are expected to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning on October 24th.
An orange warning has also been issued, indicating the need to prepare for heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging from 7 to 20cm, accompanied by thunderstorms with lightning, specifically for isolated areas in the districts of Kendrapada, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, and Gajapati.
A cautionary yellow alert has been issued for certain areas in Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar districts, warning of heavy rainfall ranging from 7 to 11cm and the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning.
The IMD has indicated that there is a high probability of squally wind speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, starting from the evening of October 23 over the northwest and west central regions of the Bay of Bengal, along with the Odisha coast. These speeds are anticipated to escalate, developing into gale wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts up to 120 kmph, from the night of October 24 until the morning of October 25.
The Odisha government has taken proactive steps by placing the district collectors of coastal districts on high alert. They have instructed them to implement necessary measures, such as evacuating individuals from at-risk locations.
