Cyclonic circulation likely to form over Bay of Bengal May 6: IMD
The IMD warned of high-speed winds over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea. Screengrab: Windy.com Meteorologists are yet to ascertain the exact path and intensification of the cyclonic storm Mocha. District administrations of southern Odisha and northeastern parts of Andhra Pradesh are getting ready to face the first low-pressure system of the year.
A cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal by May 6, 2023, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said. The circulation will influence the formation of a low-pressure area around May 7 and then converge into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on May 8.
Read more: Odisha braces for Cyclone Mocha, likely to hit around May 8
“The system is under constant watch and being monitored regularly. The details of its path and intensification will be provided after the formation of the low-pressure area,” said IMD in a statement.
The low-pressure area is then likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm, moving northwards towards the central Bay of Bengal. The details of its path and intensification will be known after the formation of the low-pressure area, said IMD.
The IMD warned of high-speed winds over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea on May 7. The wind speed may increase to 60-70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph over the southeast and central Bay of Bengal from May 10.
Districts in Odisha are on high alert. “We have already alerted the block development officers and tahsildars about the possibilities of the cyclonic storm. Over 100 multi-purpose cyclone shelter centres have prepared to give shelter to the people after evacuation,” said Dibya Jyoti Parida, Ganjam district collector.
The collector for Odisha’s Gajapati district, Lingraj Panda, said two rounds of the meetings have already taken place with the officials of the line departments. Rations for two months have been stocked in schools, while the educational institutions have closed for summer vacation.
Read more: Winds played a major role in Cyclone Fani's sudden intensification
“At least one shelter centre has been set up in each of the seven blocks in the district to shift the people if necessary. Rations stocked in the schools for the mid-day meal programme will be utilised to provide cooking foods to the evacuated people,” Panda said.
Ganjam and Gajapati districts are familiar with the fury of severe cyclones and floods. Phailin, a severe cyclonic storm, made landfall near Gopalpur in October 2013 and devastated Ganjam.
Titli, another severe cyclone, hit near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh on October 11, 2018 and caused heavy losses in Gajapati. The Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border district witnessed massive landslides due to the heavy rains.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 2, 2023 took stock of the preparation for Cyclone Mocha. He said the pre-monsoon cyclone was unpredictable and asked the district administrations to prepare to face any eventuality and ensure zero casualties.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state government has also alerted the districts like Srikakulam and Vizianagaram to prepare for the cyclone.
Read more: There is a chance of cyclone formation in the Bay of Bengal in the second week of May
“We have prepared for the possible cyclone. Though the government has alerted the administration, but it has not given any direction so far. We will prepare as per the direction of the government after the formation of the depression of the system,” said a senior government officer in Srikakulam district.
Different parts of Andhra have witnessed rains. While Veligandla of Prakasam district recorded 8 centimetre rainfall, followed by 7 cm rainfall in Peddapuram of Kakinada district, 6 cm in Palasa of Srikakulam, 5 cm rainfall each in Prathipadu, Araku Valley, Mandasa and Tadepalligudem in the state on May 4.
Andhra Pradesh experienced 26 per cent excess rainfall at 27.5 mm in April 2023 against the normal of 21.9 mm, sources added.
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