Cyclone Hudhud will cross the North Andhra Pradesh coast around Vishakapatnam by October 12 forenoon, according to the India Meterological Department.
“On Wednesday we had said that the range for hitting would be between Gopalpur (Odisha) and Vishakapatnam. Now this has been narrowed to nearing Vishakapatnam. The speed would remain the same as of now,” IMD director general LS Rathore said on Thursday.
Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulum are the three Andhra Pradesh districts that will be affected the most.
The cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestward and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm. It lay centered near latitude 13.8ºN and longitude 89.0ºE, about 750 km southeast of Gopalpur and east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
The system would continue to move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.
M Mohapatra, head of the cyclone warning system, IMD said, “The wind speed of Phailin (cyclone which hit in October last year) was 210-220 kilometres an hour. Hudhud is expected to have a wind speed of 130-140 kilometres an hour. This would be less intense, but we are still keeping a close watch.”
OP Singh, director general of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), said two battalions had been sent to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. “ There are 12 teams in each battalion, so we have 24 teams ready. Battalions of West Bengal and Bihar have also been alerted. The communication network has been intensified.”
Read: Patnaik seeks Indian Air Force's help, writes to Jaitley
Warning for north Andhra Pradesh coast and south Odisha
i. Heavy rainfall warning: Under the influence of the system, rainfall at most places with heavy (6.5 – 12.4 cm) to very heavy fall (12.5 – 24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (more than 24.5 cm) would occur over east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, and in south Odisha from October 11 evening. Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over remaining districts of Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Odisha during the same period.
ii. Wind warning: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kilometres an hour to 70 kilometres an hour would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from October 11 morning. The wind speed would increase to 130-140 kilometres an hour, gusting to 155 kilometres an hour from October 12 morning along and off north Andhra coast and 80-90 kilometres an hour along and off south Odisha coast.
iii. Sea condition along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts: Would be rough to very rough from October 11 morning. It would gradually become phenomenal from October 12 morning onwards along and off north Andhra coast and very rough to high along and off south Odisha coast.
iv. Storm surge warning: Of about 1-2 metres above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam at the time of landfall.
v. Damage expected: Extensive damage to mud houses, partial disruption of power and communication lines and minor disruption of rail and road traffic. There is also a potential threat from flying debris and flooding of escape routes.
vi. Action suggested: Suspension of fishing operations in area of influence of cyclone, judicious regulation of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic. People in affected areas to remain at safe places around period of landfall.
Read: Patnaik seeks Indian Air Force's help, writes to Jaitley
Warning for north Andhra Pradesh coast and south Odisha
i. Heavy rainfall warning: Under the influence of the system, rainfall at most places with heavy (6.5 – 12.4 cm) to very heavy fall (12.5 – 24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (more than 24.5 cm) would occur over east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, and in south Odisha from October 11 evening. Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over remaining districts of Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Odisha during the same period.
ii. Wind warning: Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kilometres an hour to 70 kilometres an hour would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from October 11 morning. The wind speed would increase to 130-140 kilometres an hour, gusting to 155 kilometres an hour from October 12 morning along and off north Andhra coast and 80-90 kilometres an hour along and off south Odisha coast.
iii. Sea condition along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts: Would be rough to very rough from October 11 morning. It would gradually become phenomenal from October 12 morning onwards along and off north Andhra coast and very rough to high along and off south Odisha coast.
iv. Storm surge warning: Of about 1-2 metres above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam at the time of landfall.
v. Damage expected: Extensive damage to mud houses, partial disruption of power and communication lines and minor disruption of rail and road traffic. There is also a potential threat from flying debris and flooding of escape routes.
vi. Action suggested: Suspension of fishing operations in area of influence of cyclone, judicious regulation of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic. People in affected areas to remain at safe places around period of landfall.