Odisha, Bengal on alert as cyclone set to form by October 23

Bhubaneswar, Oct 20: A cyclonic storm is expected to develop over the Bay of Bengal near the Odisha coast by October 23, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On Sunday, the IMD announced that a low-pressure area is likely to form in the region within the next 24 hours.

The IMD shared that the upper-air cyclonic circulation, observed over the central Andaman Sea on October 19, had moved towards the northern Andaman Sea by early October 20. "This circulation is expected to trigger the formation of a low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the northern Andaman Sea within the next 24 hours," the IMD stated on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The developing system is forecasted to move west-northwestward, intensifying into a depression by the morning of October 22, and further strengthening into a cyclonic storm by October 23. The storm is expected to continue its movement towards the northwest, reaching the northwest Bay of Bengal near the Odisha and West Bengal coasts by October 24.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, addressing the media on Sunday, warned of rough sea conditions. He stated that wind speeds could reach 45 kmph by the morning of October 21, increasing to 50-60 kmph by the evening. Winds may further intensify, reaching 65-75 kmph by October 23 in the central Bay of Bengal.

Mohapatra added that wind speeds could escalate to 100-120 kmph when the system approaches the Odisha-West Bengal coastline on October 24. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea until October 25 due to the expected severe weather.

The coastal states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal are likely to experience heavy rainfall as the storm advances. Odisha, in particular, may witness rain starting October 23, with the heaviest downpours forecasted for October 24 and 25. Some areas in the state may experience extremely heavy rainfall during this period, Mohapatra noted.