A developing weather system over the Gulf of Thailand is expected to reach the Andaman Sea, with the India Meteorological Department warning that a low-pressure area may form over the south-eastern Bay of Bengal around October 13. Thirteen districts in Odisha have been alerted for possible rain accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms over the next 24 hours.
The system was active over the Malacca Strait region on Saturday and extended up to 9.4 kilometres above sea level, according to the report citing the weather department. It is expected to move into the Andaman Sea before influencing conditions over the Bay of Bengal.
The department has not yet established how strongly the possible low-pressure area will intensify or which direction it will take. Its development and likely movement are expected to become clearer only after the system forms over the Bay of Bengal.
The districts covered by the weather alert are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh. Some areas in these districts may receive rain with lightning and thunder during the next 24 hours.
The alert has implications for everyday urban and coastal systems, including road travel, electricity supply, drainage and outdoor activity. However, the available report does not indicate any disruption to transport services, damage or emergency evacuation orders. The current warning is focused on the possibility of thunderstorms and rain rather than a confirmed severe cyclone threat.
Weather expert Sarat Sahu said coastal districts could receive light to moderate rain between October 13 and 15 because of the developing system. Rainfall is expected to decline around October 16, when conditions may turn dry. Sahu said the system was not currently expected to produce heavy rainfall.
The expert also cautioned against relying on early projections from foreign weather models about a possible cyclone. He said different models were not showing sufficient agreement and that there was no clear indication at present that a cyclone would form. Weather conditions are being monitored as the system develops, while the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre’s district-level alerts remain the immediate operational guidance for Odisha residents and local authorities.
