VISAKHAPATNAM: Amid speculations of a cyclone approaching northern Andhra Pradesh, the IMD has announced that the well-marked low-pressure area over west-central Bay of Bengal, along with the associated upper air cyclonic circulation, is very likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 24 hours.
Met officials said the depression would to move northwestwards to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts by Wednesday evening, resulting in heavy rainfall in the area.“Under the influence of the well-marked low pressure region, East and West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam distrcts are likely to witness isolated heavy rainfall in the next two days and scattered rainfall for the next five days, while Rayalaseema may remain dry,” said IMD director YK Reddy.
According to him, the sudden weather change is due to the southwest monsoon, which has started retreating. The withdrawal will intensify in the next 3 to 4 days once the low-pressure zone over the Bay of Bengal wanes away.In the last 24 hours, the southwest monsoon remained weak over coastal AP and Rayalaseema resulting in dry weather.
The met officials have warned that strong surface winds from the north direction with speeds reaching 45 to 50 kmph are likely to blow along and off south coastal AP and strong surface winds from north easterly direction with speeds reaching 45 to 50 kmph are likely to blow along and off north coastal AP. They also warned fishermen not to venture into the sea in the next 24 hours. The rain forecast has thrown a wet blanket on the Diwali fervour, with cracker shops registering poor sale. Meanwhile, authorities do not want to take any chance and so have initiated precautionary measures for possible human and property loss in case there is an emergency.
