A depression over the Bay of Bengal is steadily gaining strength and advancing toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting the meteorological department to issue a heavy rainfall and rough sea alert for Odisha.
Over the past three hours, the weather system has been moving at a speed of 10 kmph and is currently centred approximately 1,130 km from Gopalpur and 1,010 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
Weather officials project that the system will intensify into a cyclonic storm by the 16th, strengthen into a severe cyclone on the 17th, and further escalate into a very severe cyclonic storm by the 19th. During its peak intensity, sustained wind speeds are expected to reach 120 to 130 kmph, with violent gusts touching up to 145 kmph. While the system is currently tracking toward the Andhra coast, the meteorological department is closely monitoring its trajectory and intensification.
Heavy Rain Alert for Six Odisha Districts
Although the storm is projected to head toward Andhra Pradesh, its outer bands are expected to trigger widespread rain and gusty winds across Odisha. The weather department has forecast heavy rainfall from the 18th to the 20th, specifically alerting six coastal and southern districts:
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Ganjam
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Gajapati
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Puri
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Khordha
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Kendrapada
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Jagatsinghpur
Fishermen Advisory and Sea Conditions
Ahead of the system’s intensification, squally weather is expected along and off the south Odisha coast on the 17th and 18th. Wind speeds in these maritime zones are likely to reach 45 to 55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph.
With sea conditions predicted to remain rough to very rough, authorities have issued a strict warning advising fishermen not to venture into the sea along the south Odisha coast and adjoining waters on the 17th and 18th.
