New Delhi, October 24 — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said a well-marked low-pressure area over the east-central Bay of Bengal is projected to intensify into a depression during the day and further develop into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, ANI reported. The update, issued in the IMD's Special Message No. 3, is based on observations recorded at 5:30 am IST on October 24.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

According to the IMD, the low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal had intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area and lay over the east-central Bay of Bengal at 5:30 am on Saturday. It is projected to intensify into a deep depression on October 25 as it begins moving west-northwestwards.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

October 24System intensifies into a depression
October 25Deep depression expected
October 26 (morning)Cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal
October 28 (morning)System approaches Andhra Pradesh coast
30Odisha districts placed on alert

The system is likely to continue moving west-northwestwards and intensify further before reaching the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28, the IMD said. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra had on Friday outlined the same step-by-step timeline, noting the system is expected to approach the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts by late October.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

Odisha steps up preparedness

The Odisha government has stepped up preparedness for a possible cyclone, placing all 30 districts on alert and identifying 16 districts for special monitoring because of their potential vulnerability, Sambad English reported. The government has cancelled leave for officers and employees to ensure their availability for emergency response and relief operations, and district collectors have been authorised to decide on closing schools and colleges based on local conditions.

Source: Sambad English

Mirror Now, citing the IMD's forecasts, reported that the system is expected to track towards the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts by October 28, with extremely heavy rainfall — exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours — possible at isolated places in north Andhra Pradesh on October 28, and heavy to very heavy rain in coastal Odisha from October 27. The IMD has not yet determined the precise landfall location or the system's intensity at landfall.

Source: Mirror Now