Odisha is closing schools in five districts as India’s weather agency forecasts a Bay of Bengal depression could become a very severe cyclonic storm before reaching the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Oct. 28.
IMD expects the system to deepen on Oct. 25, become a cyclonic storm by Oct. 26 and reach severe cyclonic-storm strength around Oct. 27 before intensifying further. It forecast a crossing between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of Oct. 28, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 km/h and gusts up to 140 km/h.
A separate IMD outlook said models’ estimates for peak intensity ranged from 50 to 70 knots. The agency’s formal bulletin gave the 115-125 km/h sustained-wind range for the expected crossing.
IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh on Oct. 27-28 and Odisha on Oct. 27 and 29. It said isolated extremely heavy rainfall was possible in both states on Oct. 28 and warned of extensive damage to kutcha houses, power and communication poles, roads and standing crops in coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining southern Odisha on Oct. 27-28.
The Odisha Chief Minister’s Office said schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts would close Oct. 28-29, with 302 rescue teams ready. The Odisha government also directed authorities to provide shelter for residents in low-lying areas and move pregnant women and patients to health facilities. It called for plans to restore roads, electricity and drinking water after the storm and protect crops.
The new crossing area adds detail to an earlier Bay-system forecast by IMD that placed the system near Andhra Pradesh around Oct. 28 but did not specify a crossing point. IMD scheduled its next bulletin for 3 a.m. ET Sunday (07:00 UTC).
