Cyclone Sitrang update: Depression forms over southeast BoB, rain warning for these Odisha districts

The low pressure area formed over north Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into depression over southeast Bay of Bengal close to Andaman Islands, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Saturday.

"Yesterday’s WMLover north Andaman Sea and adjoining south Andaman Sea & SE BoB concentrated into a depression at 0830 IST today and lay near Lat 12.7N and long 92.4E, about 110 km NNW of Port Blair. Likely to intensify further into a Deep Depression by 23rd October  morning," the IMD's Bhubaneswar regional centre tweeted.

"Depression very likely to move NW & intensify further into a DD over EC & adjoining SE Bay of Bengal by 23rd Oct morning. Subsequently, it is very likely to recurve gradually NNEwards  & intensify into a cyclonic storm over central Bay of Bengal by 24th Oct morning," the IMD added. 

The weather bureau added that "Thereafter, it would continue to move north northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Tinkona Island and Sandwip around 25th October early morning."

Under the influence of the cyclonic storm, the coastal districts of Odisha will begin to experience rainfall from tomorrow (October 23). Yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts.

Besides, squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph on 23rd, 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph on October 24 and 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph on October 25 is very likely along and off Odisha coast.

Heavy rainfall warning in association with the system:

Day 3: Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Puri. (Valid from 0830 Hrs IST of 23.10.22 to 0830 Hrs IST of 24.10.22) 

Day-4: Orange Warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur. 

Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Khordha, Puri and Ganjam. (Valid from 0830 Hrs IST of 24.10.22 to 0830 Hrs IST of 25.10.22)

Day-5: Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Bhadrak (Valid from 0830 Hrs IST of 25.10.22 to 0830 Hrs IST of 26.10.22).