Odisha alerts coastal and southern districts as a Bay of Bengal weather system may intensify into a cyclone by November 16. IMD issues rainfall warnings
OdishaPlus Bureau
The Odisha government on Friday alerted district collectors in the coastal and southern parts of the state after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that a weather system over the Bay of Bengal could intensify into a cyclonic storm by the evening of November 16.
Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the IMD had not yet assessed the possible impact of the developing system on Odisha. However, the government had initiated precautionary measures and asked district collectors to remain prepared.
“Though the IMD has not made any prediction, we have already taken precautionary measures and informed the district collectors of the northern, southern and coastal regions to remain prepared and vigilant about the system brewing in the sea,” Pujari said.
The Minister is expected to hold a review meeting with senior officials to assess the evolving weather situation and discuss preparedness measures.
In a special communication to the Chief Secretary, the IMD said a low-pressure area had formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It was centred over the central Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday morning.
The system is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area by November 14. It is expected to develop into a depression over the same region around the morning of November 15, before moving north-northwestwards and intensifying further into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of November 16.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts on November 18 and 19.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during this period.
For November 19 and 20, the weather office has forecast heavy rainfall in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts and issued a yellow warning for these areas. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also likely in several coastal and southern districts.
The IMD has separately warned of squally weather along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17, with wind speeds of 45-55 kmph and gusts reaching 65 kmph. Sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17.
The state government is keeping the coastal and southern districts on alert as the weather system develops, while its eventual track and likely impact on Odisha are yet to be assessed.