Bhubaneswar: Amid the rising mercury levels and thunderstorm activity in Odisha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the forecasted depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal may intensify further.
“A cyclonic circulation lies over Southwest Bay of Bengal coast. Under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southwest Bay of Bengal by May 22. It is very likely to move northeastwards and concentrate into a Depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by morning of May 24. It would continue to move northeastwards and intensify further thereafter.”
However, no prediction has been made yet on likely intensification of the system into a cyclone.
The weather agency has warned of heavy rain in Balasore district on May 25. Thunderstorm and lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may also occur at one or two places in North Coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, and Dhenkanal.
It has specifically cautioned fishermen off the coasts of northern Odisha and West Bengal to stay ashore on May 23 and 24 as sea conditions are likely to be rough to very rough. If the cyclone (which would be named Remal) does form, it would be the first of the pre-monsoon season of 2024. Weather experts are of the opinion that the advancing southwest monsoon wind can prove to be a restricting factor.
Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Manorama Mohanty had earlier told the media that the IMD is keeping a close watch on the likely system and requested the people not to panic or spread any wrong information.
On May 22, thunderstorm with lightning is at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi. Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at a few places in South Coastal Odisha and at one or two places in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
Heatwave condition may also persist at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
On May 23, thunderstorm with lightning may continue at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi. Light to moderate rain/thundershower may occur at a few places in coastal Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
On May 24, thunderstorm with lightning may occur at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal. Light to moderate rain/thundershower is also likely at a few places in South Odisha and at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh.
The IMD further said that the day temperature may gradually rise by 2-3 degree Celsius at many places in the state during the next 2 days with no large change thereafter.