Cyclone Dana: IMD has released most probable track; there could be some change, says DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Monday informed that several parts of coastal Odisha will experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall under the influence of the cyclonic storm which is likely to form around October 24.

As per Mohapatra, the well-marked low-pressure area is likely to move west-northwest-wards and intensify into a depression by tomorrow and into a cyclonic storm by October 23, 2024, over the east-central Bay of Bengal. Subsequently, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coast by October 24th morning.

Continuing to move north-westwards, it is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of 24th and early morning 25th October, 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph.

Cyclone Dana: Emergency Helpline Numbers

“When it crosses the coast, its maximum wind speed will be 100 to 110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph. Odisha districts will experience heavy rainfall on October 24 and 25 and some districts may experience extremely heavy rainfall,” said Mohapatra.

According to Mohapatra, today’s forecast is the most probable track but there could be a slight change. But we are predicting heavy rainfall in coastal and interior parts of the district and we are reviewing its track every six hours, he said.