Low pressure formed over South Andaman Sea, depression in next 48 hrs: IMD

A low pressure area has been formed over the South Andaman sea on Friday morning which may intensify into a depression, informed the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.

In a tweet, the Bhubaneswar Met centre said, “Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over South Andaman Sea & neighbourhood, a low pressure area has formed over South Andaman Sea & adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a Depression during subsequent 48 hours.”

With the formation of the low pressure, a clear picture on the probable cyclone is expected to emerge very soon.

The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to mid-tropospheric levels and it is very likely to move northwards and intensify into a depression during the next 48 hours, said IMD's meteorological analysis based on 5.30 a.m. observations.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands till May 8 because of this system and fishermen have been asked not to venture into Andaman Sea during next three days; into southeast and central Bay of Bengal during next five days.

Squally with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely to prevail over Andaman Sea & adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal and it is likely to increase to 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph by May 8 over north Andaman Sea & adjoining Southeast and Eastcentral Bay of Bengal.

However, the IMD has predicted rains in many districts of Odisha on Friday under the influence of norwester.

As per the latest update of the Bhubaneswar Met Centre, Cuttack, Khordha, Dhenkanal, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Ganjm districts are likely to experience rains till 10:30 am on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Jena had said that the State government is ready to face any eventuality with 17 NDRF teams, 20 ODRAF teams and 175 fire fighting teams who are on standby.

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Jena said, “The government is ready to face the cyclone if at all it heads towards Odisha. The rains and thunderstorms we are witnessing since yesterday are norwesters and not related to depression on cyclone.”

The IMD DG said so far only fishermen warning has been issued as sea conditions in Andaman sea, Andaman Islands and Bay of Bengal will be rough with gusting winds reaching a speed of 75 kmph prevailing till May 8.