Cyclone Sitrang to trigger heavy rainfall in coastal districts of Odisha: IMD DG

Even as people in Odisha will be spared from the wrath of the impending cyclone as it would be skirting the coastline before heading towards West Bengal and Bangladesh, the system has the potential of triggering moderate to heavy rainfall in the State from October 23 onwards.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Thursday said the low pressure will concentrate into a Depression over eastcentral and adjoining South east Bay of Bengal after moving west-northwestwards around October 22 and further intensify into a deep depression on October 23.

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The system is very likely to recurve northwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal by October 24.

According to Mohapatra, it is likely to move gradually north-northeastwards and reach near West Bengal - Bangladesh coasts on October 25 skirting the Odisha coast. During its course, it will skirt away from Odisha coast but the sea conditions will be rough from tomorrow onwards till October 25.

“There is no possibility of the cyclonic storm hitting Odisha coast but as the system will be close to the coast, coastal districts of the State are likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall activities from October 23,” said Mohapatra.

The IMD DG said that the intensity of rainfall will be more in coastal Odisha districts on October 24 and October 25 with possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall activities.

On cyclone’s track and intensity, IMD DG said  "We have not made any forecast regarding its intensity and path. Only after the system develops into a depression, we will share more details in this regard." 

intensify into a cyclonic storm over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal by 24th October. Thereafter, it is likely to move gradually north-northeastwards & reach near West Bengal - Bangladesh coasts on #25th October, #skirting #Odisha coast.

— Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar (@mcbbsr) October 20, 2022