The people of Odisha are now on tenterhooks over the impending cyclone threat. Though the exact path or the place of landfall is yet to be ascertained, the Director General (DG), India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday said that picture will get clear only after the current low pressure system intensified into a Depression by tomorrow (December 2).
According to Mohapatra, the Depression is likely to intensify into a Cyclonic storm around December 3 and it will move northwestwards and reach north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast around December 4 morning.
“There is every possibility that it may take shape of a Severe Cyclonic Storm. Under its impact, several coastal districts of Odisha will start experiencing light to moderate rainfall from December 3. South Odisha districts may also experience heavy rainfall on December 3,” said Mohapatra.
IMD has stated that the intensity of rainfall in Odisha will increase from December 4, especially the coastal districts and interior districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Some parts of coastal Odisha will experience extremely heavy rainfall (20 cms or above) during the period.
However, the intensity of rainfall will decrease from December 5. However, several north Odisha districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Several parts of Odisha will experience maximum wind speed and rainfall on December 4.
“Only after the formation of the Depression, we will be in a position to predict the path and location of the cyclone crossing the coast and its intensity. No immediate warning has been issued for the ports so far,” said Mohapatra.
According to Mohapatra, the probable cyclone from the low-pressure system will move in northwest direction and reach Odisha-Andhra Coast by December 4. "There is every likelihood that it will change its path and it may not also cross the coast or rather move in north-northeast direction. Or, it may cross the coast and move towards West Bengal. However, in both cases, Odisha will experience rainfall activities," Mohapatra added.