Bhubaneswar: The cyclone Bulbul that has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Friday is likely to cause heavy to moderate rainfall in several coastal districts of Odisha in the next two days till Sunday.
It will cross West Bengal – Bangladesh Coasts across Sunderban delta around Saturday midnight as a severe cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 Kmph gusting to 135 kmph.
Under its influence, strong wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph prevails and off Odisha coast. The IMD has issued yellow warning (Heavy rainfall) for Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore from Friday afternoon while orange warning (heavy to very heavy rainfall) has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur on Saturday.
“It is very likely to increase becoming squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph by Friday afternoon along and off Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 km per hour is very likely from around Saturday noon along and off Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak districts for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter. Puri and Ganjam districts are likely to experience squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph during next 36 hours,” the latest IMD bulletin said.
The very severe cyclonic storm Bulbul over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past six hours, and lay centred at 11.30 am over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal, about 310 km south-southeast of Paradip, 450 km south-southwest of Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and 550 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), it said.
“It is very likely to intensify further till early morning of November 9 (Saturday). It is very likely to move nearly northwards till 9th November morning. Thereafter, it is very likely to re-curve northeastwards and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh Coasts between Sagar Islands (West Bengal) and Khepupara (Bangladesh), across Sunderban delta around midnight of 9th November as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 Kmph gusting to 135 Kmph,” it added.
As per the prediction, light to moderate rainfall at most places is very likely over north coastal districts with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Puri, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Jagatsinghpur districts will be experienced today.
Light to moderate rainfall at most places is also very likely over north coastal districts of Odisha with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts and heavy falls at isolated places over Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts on November 9.
Meanwhile, in view of the IMD forecast the State Government has announced two-day holidays for all schools and anganwadi centres in three districts of Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Kendrapada and cancelled the holidays of all Government employees in the coastal districts till Saturday.