BHUBANESWAR: In what can be a matter of relief for the people of Odisha, the first cyclone of this pre-monsoon season is likely to skirt the state’s coast and head over the Bay of Bengal towards Bangladesh.
The India Meteorological Department on Thursday said the system’s impact on the state is likely to be minimal, with rainfall expected over some districts.
The system, meanwhile, intensified into a well-marked low pressure area over west-central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal on the day. It is then likely to move northeastwards and concentrate into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by Friday morning. Thereafter, it is expected to continue to move northeastwards, intensifying into a cyclonic storm over east-central Bay of Bengal by Saturday morning, said the national weather forecaster.
Subsequently, it will move nearly northwards and reach near Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts by Sunday evening as a severe cyclonic storm. The regional met office said though the tropical storm will not have any significant impact over Odisha, a few parts of the state will receive heavy rainfall for two days.
Heavy rain is expected in Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts on Sunday, while Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts may receive heavy rainfall the next day.
Under impact of the system, wind speed reaching 40 km to 50 km per hour is likely to prevail along and off north Odisha coasts from Saturday evening. The met office has cautioned the fishermen that the sea condition will be very rough along and off north Odisha coast from Saturday evening to Monday morning.
While the system will have little impact, it is expected to raise temperature in its wake. The weather office said currently there is no heatwave warning for Odisha. However, maximum day temperature is likely to rise by 2 degree Celsius to 3 degree Celsius during next three days in the state. Since the system will move over the sea, it is likely to pull out moisture from over the state which may raise the heat. Though isolated thundershowers are expected, it may not impact the heat pattern much.