Cyclone Sitrang Update: Heavy Rain with Gusty Winds Likely in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & West Bengal

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the first cyclonic storm following the monsoon is likely to form over the west-central Bay of Bengal around the weekend and it will affect the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

However, the exact location of its landfall is still unknown. The cyclone will be known as Cyclone Sitrang once it has formed.

The collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Balasore have been informed by SRC Jena.

"At 8.30 am today, the cyclonic circulation over the north Andaman Sea and surrounding area was still present, reaching up to mid-tropospheric levels. Within the next 24 hours, a low-pressure region is predicted to develop over the southeast and adjacent east-central Bay of Bengal under its influence. By the morning of October 22 over the Bay of Bengal, it is likely to concentrate into a depression and move west-northwest. Over the next 48 hours, it is extremely likely to become a cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal, according to Jena's message.

The west-central Bay of Bengal and the coast of Odisha are likely to have squally winds of 45 to 55 km per hour, with gusts up to 65 km per hour, starting on October 22 due to the influence of the aforementioned projected storm. Beginning on October 22, the SRC recommended fishermen from venturing into the deep water in the west central and adjacent north Bay of Bengal. Additionally, he instructed the fishermen to reach the coast by October 22.

The weather department also said that heavy rain will lash Karnataka for the next 5 days. According to the forecast, Bengaluru will also witness heavy rain in the coming 2 days.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been issued for Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Haveri, Bagalkot, Udupi, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Kalaburagi, Koppal and Ballary districts.