The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a cyclonic system brewing over the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, prompting the Odisha government to cancel leaves of all disaster personnel and mobilise 225 rescue teams on high alert across vulnerable districts.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been forecast for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Bargarh, and Nuapada on October 28.
Sounding a high alert for Odisha as the state braces for cyclone Arnab, Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, on Sunday, stated that although the cyclonic storm will make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, it will trigger severe weather, extremely heavy rainfall, and gusty winds across Odisha, particularly impacting its southern regions. “It is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm by the forenoon of 28th October. However, the rainfall impact will be more significant,” she added. “After landfall, it is likely to move close to Malkangiri district, but it will remain in Andhra Pradesh.
Because of this, Odisha is likely to be impacted by rainfall activity and wind speed as well. Because of this, we are expecting extremely heavy rainfall… Because we are expecting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, especially in the hilly areas,” Mohanty added, landslides may also occur.
the wind speed will be around 115 to 125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h While crossing the coast. She stated that a ‘Red Alert’ has also been sounded for October 28 across five southern Odisha districts: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, where isolated extremely heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 50 to 60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, are anticipated. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been forecast for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Bargarh, and Nuapada on October 28, with widespread activity continuing into October 29 before receding substantially from October 30.
