Bhubaneswar: A well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a depression within the next six hours and further develop into a cyclonic storm within the subsequent 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 2, the IMD’s midday weather bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said.
The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at a few places across Odisha over the next two days, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty surface winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, at isolated places in several districts.
The IMD has issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam on November 3 and 4. These districts are also likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 50-60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph.
A similar orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds has been issued for the same five districts on November 4 and 5. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada during the period.
For November 2, a yellow warning has been issued for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Khordha. Other districts have also been alerted about thunderstorms and gusty winds.
The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from November 2 to 4 as squally weather with wind speeds of 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, is likely to prevail. Sea conditions are expected to remain very rough to high during the period.
Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall was recorded at a few places in Odisha during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Saturday. Ambabhona in Baragada, Baleshwar, Jamsolaghat, Oupada and NH-5 Gobindpur recorded the highest rainfall of 5 cm each.
Moderate fog was reported at one or two places in Bhubaneswar. The maximum temperature was 32.4 degrees Celsius at Paradeep, while Nayagarh recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 17.6 degrees Celsius.
For Bhubaneswar and its neighbourhood, the IMD has forecast a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 32 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The weather office has advised people to remain alert, stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under trees and unplug electrical appliances. It has also cautioned against travelling during severe weather conditions.
