After being pounded by the ferocious Phialin earlier this month, Odisha may face another cyclone during the next 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said low pressure area developed over west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Andhra Pradesh would move west-north-westwards and emerge in east-central Arabian Sea on Friday.
Under the influence of this system, heavy to very heavy rain may occur over major parts of Northern and Southern Odisha. This may be accompanied by strong and gusty surface wind of a speed of 45-55 kms per hour (kmph) at most places of the State on Friday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
As per the weather report of IMD, the low pressure is likely to be formed under the influence of two upper air cyclonic circulations over the Bay of Bengal. These include an upper air cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal, off Tamil Nadu and coast of Sri lanka, extending up to 1.5 kms. The other includes upper air cyclonic circulation over the lower southeast Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood extending up to 3.1 km above mean sea level. The IMD has further predicted that rain or thundershowers would also occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours.
According to sources in IMD, the disturbance over Odisha and parts of Gangetic West Bengal, is caused by the upper air cyclonic circulation along the coast of Tamil Nadu has turned into a low pressure disturbance. This is expected to intensify further and largely affect Odisha coast. The showers that have already started are expected to continue for the next 72 hours.
Gopalpur in Odisha, where Phialin made its landfall on October 13, continues to be vulnerable. Along with Behrampur, it has already received 140 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours. Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar have received above 90 mm and 80 mm rain respectively during the last 24 hours. The sources of cyclone warning division, IMD said, they are closely monitoring the situation as Phailin, which had entered the Bay of Bengal in the form of a low-pressure system gradually intensifying into a cyclone and then into a very severe cyclone.
However, in this case, the system is gradually losing strength, but in the given circumstances, it is likely to enter the Bay of Bengal as a cyclonic circulation. However, it is likely to have a lesser intensity than a low pressure, hence, there may be chances that it may not eventually develop into a cyclone. The system is being constantly monitored,” said the sources in IMD.