Low pressure area formed over east-central Bay of Bengal; Cyclone Dana heads for Odisha-West Bengal coast

VISAKHAPATNAM: Under the influence of yesterday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea and adjoining east central and southeast Bay of Bengal, a Low- Pressure-Area (LPA) formed over the east central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea in the early morning on Monday (Oct 21).It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by October 22 morning (Tuesday) and into a cyclonic storm by October 23 (Wednesday) over east central Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24 (Thursday) morning.The cyclone will be called “Dana" (a beautiful, precious pearl in Arabic), a name given by Qatar. India Meteorological Department’s all models suggest the Odisha and Bengal coasts would bear the brunt of the emerging Dana. Weather experts note that October is commonly referred to as the "Month of Cyclones in Bay of Bengal.Under the influence of the weather system, the IMD forecast heavy rainfall over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Alluri Sitarama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalle and Srikakulam districts) between October 24 and 26.Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning likely at isolated places over north and south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema from Monday to Wednesday (Oct 21 to 23). Fishermen are advised to return to shore by October 21 due to the storm's potential impacts.The weathermen said the possible cyclonic storm path, wind speed and intensity will be predicted after the system intensifies into depression from low pressure. However, it is clear that the system will head north-north westwards towards the Bengal-Odisha coast. Squally wind speed reaching 40 to 50 km/h gusting to 60 km/h is very likely to commence from Oct 23 evening. It would gradually increase, becoming gale wind speed, reaching 100kmph to 110kmph gusting to 120kmph from Oct 24 night till Oct 25 morning. The last cyclone to hit the Bengal coast was Remal on May 26, 2024.