Cyclone likely to miss Odisha-Andhra coast, set to change course on May 10

Weather forecasts say on May 10 gales touching 90 kmph and gusts up to 100 kmph are likely over west-central and adjoining northwest and east-central Bay of Bengal.

Updated on: May 7, 2022, 17:34:03 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: There is little likelihood of the cyclonic storm that is forming on the Bay of Bengal of hitting either the Odisha or Andhra Pradesh coast as it is expected to re-curve and change path after May 10 evening, Meteorological department officials said.

As a precautionary measure against the possible cyclonic storm, 175 specialised teams of Odisha Fire Services have been formed to deploy in the districts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh (PTI PHOTO.)

Met officials in Bhubaneswar said the well-marked low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify into a depression over during the next 3 hours and further into a cyclone over east-central Bay of Bengal on May 8.

“It is very likely to continue to move north-westwards till 10th May evening and reach west-central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts. Thereafter, it is very likely to re-curve north-north-eastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast,” said IMD officials.

The officials indicated there will be no landfall in Odisha or Andhra Pradesh. “After moving north-north-eastwards, the system will weaken in the sea. It may have the same intensity as Cyclone Jawad, which had formed over the Bay of Bengal in December last year but weakened into a deep depression and caused rainfall at Paradip,” said senior scientist Uma Shankar Das.

According to Met department officials, on May 10, gales with wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph and gusting up to 100 kmph is likely to prevail over west-central and adjoining northwest and east-central Bay of Bengal. Squalls with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are likely over coastal districts of north Andhra Pradesh. On May 11, gales reaching 70-80 kmph speed and gusting to 90 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. Squalls with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are likely over coastal districts of Odisha and adjoining coastal north Andhra Pradesh.

However, as a precautionary measure against the possible cyclonic storm, 175 specialised teams of Odisha Fire Services have been formed to deploy in the likely to be affected districts, said Fire Services chief DG Santosh Upadhyay. Each Special team has power saws, Combi Tools, Tower Lights and other rescue equipment with them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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