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Bhubaneswar Meteorological Department Director Manorama Mohanty said that the weather system has moved towards west-northwest and is likely to move further in the same direction.
“It will become a depression over south-east and adjoining central Bay of Bengal by October 25, a deep depression over south-east and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by October 26, and a cyclonic storm over south-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by October 27 morning,” Mohanty told reporters.
Asked if the system would hit the Odisha coast, he said, “It is too early to predict, but wherever it hits, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Odisha from October 27 to 29. Coastal districts are expected to be worst affected.”
The IMD has issued a yellow warning of light to moderate rain in 12 districts on Friday, in 21 districts each on Saturday and Sunday and in the entire state on Monday.
Expanding its forecast, the IMD issued an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared), predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall for three districts – Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada – and a ‘yellow’ warning (be aware), predicting heavy rainfall in the remaining 27 districts, on Monday, the day the cyclone is expected to form over the ocean.
Orange warning has been issued for 10 districts Kendrapara, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangari for October 28. The remaining 20 districts were in the yellow warning category of heavy rainfall.
Similarly, on October 29, the IMD issued an orange warning for six districts Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj and a yellow warning for 10 other districts.
Mohanty said that under its influence, wind speed ranging from 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along Odisha coast from October 26. Wind speed is likely to increase from 45-55 kmph to 65 kmph from October 27 and from 50-60 kmph to 70 kmph from October 28 to October 29.
Since sea conditions are likely to be moderate to rough along and off Odisha coast from October 26, IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the Bay of Bengal during this period.
Meanwhile, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to face any situation.
“October is generally considered a cyclone-prone month. There is no need to panic. The government is fully prepared to handle the situation,” Pujari said.
Weather officials said this system is also likely to cause heavy rain in North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram and Howrah districts of South Bengal between October 28 and 30. He said that there is a possibility of thunderstorm with lightning in Kolkata and adjoining Hooghly district on October 28.
North Bengal districts Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, South Dinajpur and Malda are also likely to receive heavy rain between October 29 and 30.