Deep Depression to Cross Odisha Coast; Heavy Rain Forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has ruled out the possibility of a cyclonic storm as the depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression before crossing the Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast.

The depression is currently located over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and is moving westward at around 18 kmph. It is situated nearly 200 km southeast of Gopalpur, 200 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and around 210 km south of Puri.

The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, it may become a deep depression within the next 12 hours.

The deep depression is likely to move towards the Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coast and cross the coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur. The landfall is expected between the night of September 23 and the early hours of September 24.

The weather system is likely to trigger heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Odisha for around four days. A red warning has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam for Tuesday, with extremely heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activity expected.

An orange warning has been issued for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.

For Wednesday, red warnings are in place for Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri, while Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam remain under an orange warning.

On September 24, rainfall activity is expected to decline, though Nabarangpur will remain under a red warning.

Meanwhile, winds of 55–65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, are likely over the northwest Bay of Bengal from the evening of September 22. With rough sea conditions expected, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until September 24.