Low-pressure area forms in Bay of Bengal, IMD expects cyclonic storm

Visakhapatnam: A low-pressure area (LPA) formed over the north Andaman sea and the adjoining areas of the south Andaman sea and the southeast Bay of Bengal on Thursday morning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over east central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around 22 October and into a deep depression on 23 October. Subsequently, it is very likely to recurve northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over west central and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal by 24 October. Thereafter, it is likely to move gradually north-northeastwards and reach near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts on 25 October, skirting the Odisha coast.

Expecting that the system may hit the Odisha coast, the Odisha government has put the administrations of seven coastal districts on alert in view of the IMD's forecast of a possible cyclone. The districts that may be affected are Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Balasore.

The Odisha government authorities have been asked to remain alert and closely monitor the situation as Odisha is prone to cyclones. The weather office has also predicted heavy rainfall in Puri, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur districts on 23 October. The weatherman, however, has not predicted the intensity, path, and wind speed of the system, which is likely to bring heavy rain to coastal Odisha.