Bhubaneswar: Amidst emerging reports of a potential cyclonic system forming in the Bay of Bengal next month, Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that a low pressure area may form in the first week of October and there is a low probability of it intensifying into a depression.
“It will be early to predict its form and intensity. But it’s true that the month of October is a cyclone-prone month for Odisha. Depression and cyclone form in the Bay of Bengal during this period. Generally, these move in the west-north-west direction towards Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. We are keeping a close watch. The moment when cyclonic circulation is formed, the picture will be clearer,” informed Mohapatra.
Mohapatra said that as of now IMD has issued no cyclone alert for Odisha or any other State and neither has made any prediction for cyclone.
“As per our forecast for now a low pressure area is likely to form in the first week of October. It has a low probability of intensifying into a depression. Generally, it is likely to move in the west-north-west direction but we have made no forecast on when it will reach the coast and its likely impact. It is too early to predict. We expect its genesis in the first week of October. We are constantly keeping a watch and will make a forecast at the appropriate time,” the DG IMD clarified.
Mohapatra advised people not to believe in rumours and instead follow the information being shared by the IMD.
