Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has alerted district collectors across the northern, southern and coastal regions of the state after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal could intensify into a cyclonic storm around November 16.
Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government had initiated precautionary measures and asked district collectors to remain vigilant. He added that the IMD had not yet provided a specific assessment of the system's possible impact on Odisha.
According to the IMD's November 13 bulletin, a low-pressure area formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning. It is likely to move northwestwards and become a well-marked low-pressure area on November 14. The system is expected to intensify into a depression around November 15 before potentially developing into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal by the evening of November 16.
The IMD has issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur on November 18 and 19.
For November 19 and 20, heavy rainfall is likely in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are also likely in several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Nayagarh and Mayurbhanj.
The weather department has forecast squally conditions along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17, with wind speeds of 45–55 kmph and gusts reaching 65 kmph. Sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off the south Odisha coast on that day.
While the IMD has forecast the possible development of a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal, it has not specified a landfall location or confirmed the system's likely impact on Odisha.
The state government is monitoring the situation and has asked district administrations to remain prepared as the weather system develops.
(With inputs from agencies)