Cyclone Montha To Take Shape In 24 Hours; Deep Depression 950 Km From Odisha Coast

Bhubaneswar: A deep depression has formed over southeast Bay of Bengal, about 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha), the India meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Sunday.

It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards, intensify further into a cyclonic storm over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours and move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of October 28.

The storm, named Montha, is expected to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on the night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm.

“Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm,” it added.

Impact on Odisha

The storm is likely to bring sustained winds blowing at 90 to 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, and trigger heavy rainfall across southern coastal districts.

Sixteen of Odisha’s 30 districts are likely to experience significant impact. A red warning of scattered heavy to very heavy falls (7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) has been issued for seven districts—Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, and Gajapati – on October 28-29.

Likewise, orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20cm) has been issued for Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhmal, Nayagarh, Khurda and Puri districts.

On October 27-28, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) is likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, and Kandhamal. The IMD has issued an orange warning for these districts. Similarly, a yellow warning of heavy rain (7 to 11cm) has been issued for some places of Nuapada, Balangir, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapada, and Jagatsinghpur districts.

As per IMD prediction, squally weather with wind speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph may prevail along and off the south Odisha coast from Saturday evening. It is likely to increase becoming 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph from October 26 evening and becoming gale wind speed reaching 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from October 27 evening to early hours of Tuesday and decrease gradually thereafter. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the south-west, adjoining central Bay of Bengal, and along and off the Odisha coast till Wednesday.

Odisha on high alert

The Odisha government has stepped up preparations in coastal districts of the state with the threat Cyclone Montha looming over the Bay of Bengal. Leaves of all government employees in Balasore district has been cancelled, while officials in Ganjam district has been directed to remain stationed at their headquarters until further orders. The state government has urged all district administrations, disaster response teams, and local bodies to remain on alert and ensure round-the-clock readiness to tackle any possible emergency situation, especially in southern and coastal districts.