With a low pressure over south-west Bay of Bengal possibly brewing up to become the year's first cyclone, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday revealed its place of landfall and the likely impact of the system on Odisha.
Director General of the IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra cleared air on the probable track, intensity of the low pressure system, its subsequent intensification and place of landfall in an interaction with mediapersons.
According to Mohapatra, the low pressure formed in SW Bay of Bengal and Equatorial Indian Ocean is now centred around central part of south Bay of Bengal. It will change its direction and become a well marked low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining south Andaman Sea around the morning of March 19.
Thereafter, it is likely to move north-northwestwards initially along & off Andaman & Nicobar Islands, intensify into a Depression by 20th March and into a cyclonic storm a day later.
It will gradually move north-northeastwards to reach near Bangladesh and adjoining north Myanmar coast by 23rd March, said Mohapatra.
On the cyclonic system's possible impact like rainfall and wind on Odisha, the IMD DG said that the present track forecast suggests that it will have no impact on the State during the course of its movement.
According to an IMD statement, Andaman & Nicobar Islands & the nearby areas will experience squally weather from 18th March. Rainfall is likely to be witnessed while wind speed to increase from 19th March in these areas. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall likely to hit Andaman & Nicobar islands from 19th to 21st March,
The IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into southern part of Bay of Bengal, southeast Bay of Bengal & Andaman Sea.