Cyclonic storm set to make landfall on Kendrapara-Bhadrak coast: CEC

Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: The cyclonic storm forming over the Bay of Bengal is projected to make landfall along the Odisha coast on the night of October 24, as per the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) at Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University. Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, indicated that the storm is expected to impact the coastal areas of Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts.

The weather system, which originated as a low-pressure area over the North Andaman Sea, intensified into a depression on Tuesday morning. At 8:30 AM, it was located approximately 700 km southeast of Paradip and is expected to evolve into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the evening of October 23.

The storm will continue its west-northwest movement for the next 24 hours before shifting to a northwesterly path, making landfall on October 24. Wind speeds in the sea may reach up to 120 km/h by the afternoon of the 24th, but will likely decrease to between 85-110 km/h upon reaching the Odisha coast. In Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas, wind speeds are expected to range from 55 to 70 km/h on the night of October 24, dropping to 45-55 km/h in Berhampur on October 25.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated to begin on the evening of October 22 in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Keonjhar, continuing into the next day. Heavy to very heavy rain is forecasted from the afternoon of October 24 in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Nayagarh, and Ganjam, lasting until the afternoon of October 25. Following landfall, the system may weaken and move south-southwest toward Koraput district, bringing additional rainfall to southern Odisha until October 26, Dr. Sahu added.