Cyclone over Bay of Bengal: Low pressure forms near Sri Lanka; IMD yet to assess impact on Odisha

A developing weather system over the south-west Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Sri Lanka coast has intensified into a low-pressure area as of Thursday morning and is expected to strengthen further within the next 12 hours.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system is likely to turn into a deep depression as it tracks north-westwards over the sea. Its formation has triggered fresh concern over a potential cyclone formation in the Bay, even as the agency has not issued any forecast on its impact on Odisha.

The IMD said the disturbance is currently centred over the south-west Bay and the waters near Sri Lanka, and could consolidate further as it travels towards the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–south Andhra Pradesh coast. At present, there is no estimation of its eventual effects on Odisha.

Parallel Cyclone Over Malacca Strait

The new Bay formation is tracking alongside another system that recently intensified into Cyclone Senyar over the Malacca Strait.

Senyar originated from a deep depression and is now positioned east of the Indonesian coast, with its movement centred around Southeast Asian waters. Meteorological models suggest the cyclone will shift direction over the surrounding seas without threatening the Indian mainland, including Odisha’s coast.

Weather models have indicated that Senyar’s progression remains confined far from the central Bay of Bengal basin, a region from which systems usually pose a risk to India’s eastern shoreline.

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Odisha Forecast Stays Stable

With two systems active across the region, weather activity is expected over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and parts of South Andhra Pradesh. The Bay system is on course to approach those coastlines as it gains strength.

In Odisha, however, conditions are forecast to remain calm. The regional IMD centre in Bhubaneswar has projected dry weather in all districts until at least December 2, with scattered cloud cover as the only possible development. No rainfall advisory has been issued for the state linked to either system.

Night temperatures are likely to drop by 2°C to 3°C over the next two days in central and interior districts, adding to winter conditions.