`Jawad': Cyclonic storm to cross Andhra, Odisha coasts on Sat; red alert issued

Visakhapatnam: Cyclonic storm `Jawad' is expected to cross Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on Saturday morning with wind speed ranging from 90 kmph-100 kmph and accompanied by heavy rainfall and tidal waves.

It is likely to affect Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh and the coastal districts of Odisha. It is also likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coastal areas and Gangetic parts of West Bengal.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday took stock of the situation and directed the officials to take necessary steps to mitigate its impact. Jagan spoke to collectors of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts over the phone and inquired about the preparedness.

The district administrations of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam have set up control rooms in their respective collector's offices and the Coastal Mandal headquarters to minimize the impact of heavy rains with IMD forecast.

The Sea condition will be rough to very rough over along and off North Andhra Pradesh – Odisha coast from the midnight of Friday and become high to very high from Saturday Afternoon. Fishermen are advised not to venture along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast on Saturday and Sunday and those who are in the sea are advised to return to the coast at the earliest.

Depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 32 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered over the same region about 770 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 850 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha), and 920 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha).

It is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over central parts of the Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. It is likely to reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts on December 4 morning. Thereafter it is likely to move north-northeastwards.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert and forecasted extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts on December 3 and December 4. It is also issued Orange Warning (Heavy Rainfall likely to occur at one to two places) for East Godavari district on December 3 and 4.

Director of IMD-Amaravati, S Stella said light to moderate rainfall may occur at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday and Saturday. "Heavy rainfall likely at one or two places over East Godavari district and light to moderate rainfall at few places over Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday and Saturday," she added.

CONTROL ROOMS

VISAKHAPATNAM:

Toll-Free: 1800-425-00002

O891-2590102, 0891-2750089, 0891-2750090, 0891-2560820

VIZIANAGARAM: 08922-276888

SRIKAKULAM: 08942-240557