The cyclonic circulation lying over the central Arabian Sea is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into Cyclone Dana by October 23 (Wednesday), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. As per the Met department, the cyclone is expected to reach the northwest Bay of Bengal, off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24 morning.
"An upper air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours," the IMD said in a special bulletin.
"The weather system is expected to move west-northwestwards direction, and intensify into a depression by October 22 morning and into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over east-central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach the northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24 morning," it added.
Under its influence, light to moderate rainfall is very likely in most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the Andaman Islands on October 20 and 21, the IMD said. It also predicted that the coastal region of Odisha is likely to receive heavy rainfall from October 23 to 25.
"Light to moderate rainfall is also very likely at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal districts of West Bengal on October 23, and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Gangetic West Bengal on October 24 and 25. Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over North coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 24 and 25," IMD said.
Fishermen were advised to return to the shore by October 21. IMD Director General Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra on Saturday said that squally weather with wind speeds 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over the Bay of Bengal on October 21-22.