Moderate to heavy rains may lash coastal and south Odisha during the next 24 hours as an upper cyclonic circulation is formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, a bulletin issued by the Bhubaneswar Regional Centre of the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday.
Under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts, a low-pressure area has formed over the same region today. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 9.6 km above mean sea level, tilting southwestwards with height. It is likely to move west –west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression during the subsequent 24 hours and cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around the forenoon of 19 August, IMD said in the bulletin.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is prevailing over West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off South Odisha coasts for the next 24 hours. It is likely to increase and become squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over west-central and adjoining northwest and east-central Bay of Bengal on 18 and 20 August.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is prevailing along & off South Odisha coasts for the next 24 hours. Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely over along & off Odisha coasts during 18 to 20 August.
Sea condition is very likely to be rough to very rough over the West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off the South Odisha coasts.
IMD has advised to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No-III (LC-3) at Puri and Gopalpur ports of Odisha, it said.
Marine fishermen are advised not to venture into the West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off South Odisha coasts during 17 August and West Central and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal and along & off Odisha coasts during 18 to 20 August. Those out at sea may return to the coast by today evening.
Strong winds may damage plantations, horticulture, and standing crops, IMD said, adding that people are advised to keep a watch on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places accordingly, the IMD warned.