**Bhubaneswar**: Bracing the denizens for a spell of heavy shower and rough wind, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued cyclone alert for south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh.
“The deep depression over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards in past six hours with a speed about 15 kmph. It lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 20th September, 2018 over westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 17.6° N and longitude 86.8° E, about 290 km east southeast of Kalingapatnam (Coastal Andhra Pradesh) and about 270 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha),” the IMD bulletin stated.
“It is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and cross south Odisha – north Andhra Pradesh coasts between Kalingapatnam & Puri (Odisha), close to Gopalpur around midnight of today, the 20th September as a cyclonic storm with wind speed of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph,” the bulletin added.
According to Skymet Weather, weather conditions are ripe for the formation of a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. Sea surface temperatures are around presently around 29°C, which are extremely conducive for the strengthening of the weather system. The cyclonic storm will form at 5:30 pm and is expected to make a landfall at 11:30 pm tonight. It will persist till 2:30 am and then weaken into a deep depression while moving towards Chhattisgarh.
Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is very likely along & off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during next three hours. It will gradually increase becoming 60-70 kmph gusting 80 kmph from today evening for subsequent 12 hours, added the bulletin.
Storm surge of about 0.5 meter above astronomical tides likely to inundate low lying areas of districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda and Puri districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.
The districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Nayagarh and Puri are likely to be most hit by the developing extreme weather. Minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches and major damage to Kutcha and minor damage to Pucca roads are also expected.
Some damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards is also expected. Sea water inundation of low-lying areas might also occur after inundation of Kutcha houses.
For September 20, a red warning (‘take action’) has been issued for Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur.
On the same day, orange warning has been issued for Nuapada, Bolangir, Boudh, Sonepur, Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Balasore.
For September 21, red warning has been issued for Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput. Meanwhile, orange warning has been issued for Bolangir, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha, West Bengal and north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during next 24 hours.