Amaravati: A low-pressure area has formed over the east-central and southeastern Bay of Bengal and is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm in the coming days, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said on Friday.
Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the State Disaster Management Authority, said the system is likely to intensify into a depression by October 24 and further into a deep depression on October 25. By the morning of October 26, it is projected to develop into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
Over the following two days, the system is expected to move towards the coasts of North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha. Under its influence, widespread rainfall is likely across Andhra Pradesh.
Authorities have advised the general public and farming community to take precautionary measures. Fishermen currently out at sea have been urged to return to the shore immediately.
Due to a separate low-pressure system over the Tamil Nadu and Kerala regions, scattered heavy rains are expected in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh on Friday. Light to moderate rainfall with lightning at some places is likely on October 24 and 25, followed by widespread rain across the state from October 26, with heavy falls in isolated areas. Strong gusty winds of 60–70 kmph are also expected along the coast.
The India Meteorological Department confirmed that under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal, a low-pressure area formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday. It is most likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on Saturday. Thereafter, it is expected to move west-northwestwards, intensify into a deep depression on October 25, and further into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, continuing towards the North Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Odisha coasts in the subsequent two days.
-IANS