Low pressure over Bay of Bengal likely to intensify into cyclonic storm by May 16

Bhubaneswar: A well-marked low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by May 16 and affect multiple districts of Odisha, the Regional Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

The system is very likely to concentrate into a depression over central parts of south Bay of Bengal on May 15 and further intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over the same region by May 16 evening. It is very likely to move northwestwards initially till 17th May and then re-curve north-northeastwards towards north Bay of Bengal on 18th and 19th May, it said.

Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall very likely to occur at many places over the districts of coastal Odisha with isolated heavy rainfall very likely to occur over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara on May 18, and light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places very likely to occur over the districts of coastal Odisha on May 19, it predicted.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph very likely to occur along and off south Odisha coast on May 18 and gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph very likely to occur along and off Odisha coast on May 19, it forecasted.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off Odisha coast and north Bay of Bengal from May 18 onwards. Those who are out of sea have been advised to return to the coast by May 17.