Bhubaneswar: With a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal likely to intensify into cyclonic storm ‘Akvan’ by November 16, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rainfall and thunderstorm warnings for several districts of Odisha for November 18 and 19.
According to the IMD forecast, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts on November 18. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Baleswar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts.
On November 19, the weather agency has forecasted heavy rainfall at isolated places in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.
The rainfall warning comes as a low-pressure area over the Southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal by the evening of November 16.
The system, if it develops into a cyclone, will be named ‘Akvan’. The IMD has not yet indicated the possible landfall location or the likely impact of the system on coastal areas. Its movement and intensity will be closely monitored as it develops over the Bay of Bengal.