NEW DELHI: The weather system over the Bay of Bengal strengthened a step further on Sunday, November 15, with the well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay moving north-northwestwards and intensifying into a depression, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin issued on Sunday morning. The depression was centred over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am.

Source: Sambad English, Nov 15, 2026

This is the latest stage of the same system Awaaz Punjab reported on Saturday, when it had intensified from a low-pressure area into a well-marked low. The system first formed as a low over the southeast Bay of Bengal on the morning of Friday, November 13, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the central Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Nov 13, 5.30 amLow-pressure area forms over the southeast Bay of Bengal
Nov 14, 5.30 amSystem intensifies into a well-marked low
Nov 15, 5.30 amDepression forms over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay
Nov 16Cyclonic storm likely over the central Bay of Bengal
Nov 17Severe cyclonic storm likely over the west-central Bay

According to the IMD, the depression is very likely to continue moving north-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central parts of the south and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on November 16. It is further likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal on November 17. Once the system reaches cyclonic-storm strength it will be named Akvan, the next name on the regional cyclone list. The IMD said the system's further movement and intensification will be closely monitored as it develops over the Bay.

In the immediate term, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are bracing for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on November 16, with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and squalls in the surrounding seas reaching up to 60 kmph, the IMD forecast said. Maritime interests and residents in the islands have been advised to prepare for deteriorating conditions.

Source: Mirror Now, Nov 15, 2026

Heavy rain outlook for the east coast

Odisha is forecast to receive heavy rainfall from November 18, rising to heavy to very heavy showers on November 19 and 20, with the conditions expected to persist through November 21 along with possible thundersqualls. Earlier IMD-based reporting put the likely rainfall at 7-11 cm at isolated places on November 18 and 12-20 cm in some districts on November 19 and 20 across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, with orange warnings issued for districts including Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam are expected to see isolated rain by November 17-18, widening by November 19.

The IMD's fishermen warnings remain in force: fishermen out at sea were advised to return to the coast by November 15, and not to venture into the Andaman Sea and areas along and off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands till November 17, the southeast Bay of Bengal during November 15-18, the southwest Bay during November 15-18, and the central Bay of Bengal during November 16-19, with squally weather of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over the southeast Bay on November 14-15.

No landfall point has been forecast yet, and forecasters say the exact track will become clearer as the system intensifies over the next 24-48 hours. Coastal residents in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have been advised to follow official IMD bulletins rather than unverified social-media alerts.

Awaaz Punjab reported the previous stage of this system on Saturday, when the low intensified into a well-marked low with a cyclonic storm expected by November 16. Read the earlier report