Cyclone Jawad likely to hit Andhra, Odisha coastline on Saturday

Cyclone Jawad is likely to form over the central Bay of Bengal on Friday and reach the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts on Saturday morning

Cyclone Jawad is likely to form over the central Bay of Bengal on Friday and reach the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts on Saturday morning. It is likely to cause very heavy rain in parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Gangetic West Bengal and damage standing crops, especially paddy, and inundate low lying areas, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned.

Cyclone Jawad’s wind speed may reach that of a severe cyclone for a brief period on Saturday when it approaches landfall. (IMD)

Cyclone Jawad may be severe briefly on Saturday when it is near the coast (90 to 100 gusting to 110 kmph). Extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm) is likely in south Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is expected in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, north and interior districts of Odisha, and Gangetic West Bengal over the weekend. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the Andaman Sea and parts of the Bay of Bengal until Sunday.

The IMD has advised fishermen to return to the coast immediately and regulation of offshore and alongshore operations in north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal coasts on Friday and their suspension on Saturday.