Odisha’s cyclone alert has prompted preparations across eight districts after the India Meteorological Department warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall from November 19 to 21 as a possible cyclonic storm develops over the Bay of Bengal. Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khurda are among the districts under the orange warning.
The system is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by the evening of November 16 and may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of November 18, IMD Bhubaneswar director Manorama Mohanty said. Wind speeds could reach 85-95 kmph, with gusts up to 105 kmph. The IMD has not yet identified a likely landfall area.
“The path and landfall area of the possible cyclone can be predicted within a day or two,” Mohanty said. The forecast uncertainty means that Odisha authorities are currently in a wait-and-watch mode while preparing for the possibility that the system could affect the state’s coast directly or produce impacts after making landfall in a southern state.
Squally weather with winds of 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, is expected along and off the south Odisha coast from November 17. Wind speeds could increase to 50-60 kmph, with gusts up to 70 kmph, between November 18 and 20. The IMD bulletin has forecast rough to very rough sea conditions from November 17 to 21.
The weather warning has immediate implications for coastal mobility, fishing activity and low-lying urban areas. The office of the special relief commissioner has issued an advisory to districts under orange and yellow warnings, asking local administrations to remain prepared for possible disruption. The advisory specifically flags localised flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas and the closure of underpasses, mainly in urban areas.
Residents have been advised to monitor weather updates and take shelter during thunderstorm activity to reduce exposure to lightning. The state government’s preparedness measures also include action by district administrations if conditions worsen or the cyclone’s projected path moves closer to Odisha.
Fishermen currently at sea have been advised to return to the coast by November 15. The advisory also asks fishing communities to avoid fresh fishing activity along and off the south Odisha coast from November 17 onwards.
Former IMD Bhubaneswar director Sarat Chandra Sahu said weather models indicated that the possible cyclonic storm could reach the Andhra Pradesh coast around November 19 or 20, with a possibility of further intensification. The IMD’s assessment of the system’s track and landfall area is expected within the next one or two days.
