Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday said that the state machinery is fully prepared to deal with heavy rain and stormy weather in view of the developing low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal that may intensify further.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that all district collectors have been asked to remain alert. “Instructions have been issued to all district administrations to remain vigilant and respond swiftly to any eventuality,” he said.

The minister added that while a US agency has predicted a possible cyclone, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has so far forecast only heavy rainfall, particularly across southern Odisha.

According to the later weather update by the IMD, light to moderate rain/thunderstorm with isolated heavy rainfall may occur at many places in Odisha on October 25-26. The state may also experience thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (speed reaching 30-50 kmph) from October 21-25.

Two LoPARs

Currently, two well-marked low pressure areas persist over southwest Bay of Bengal and southeast Arabian Sea.

The weather system over Bay of Bengal is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts by October 22 afternoon. Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts and intensify further during the subsequent 24 hours.

The other low-pressure area over southeast Arabian Sea is likely to move slowly westwards and concentrate into a depression during the next 24 hours. “From the depression stage, it is likely to become a deep depression. We are closely monitoring the speed of the system. We will be able to provide a forecast with better accuracy once the system develops into a depression,” Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, director B Amudha told the media.

She also mentioned a cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall/thunderstorm at many/some places with isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, coastal and south interior Karnataka during October 21-24; Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema during October 21-27; north interior Karnataka on October 23-24; Telangana during October 23-25.

Very heavy rainfall may occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema during October 21-23; south interior Karnataka on October 21-22, Tamil Nadu on October 23, Kerala on October 21 and October 23 and Coastal Karnataka on October 22-23.

Extremely heavy rainfall (≥ 21cm) is likely over Tamil Nadu on October 21-22 and Kerala on October 22.