Cyclone Dana likely to make landfall along Odisha-Bengal coasts on Oct 24

The low pressure system is likely to move in a west-northwest direction and develop into a depression by October 22, intensifying into a cyclonic storm by October 23.

A low-pressure system brewing over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm, Dana, by October 23, stated the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday. It will likely make a landfall along the Odisha-West Bengal coastlines by October 24 morning. Current weather models, such as IMD-GFS and ECMWF, predict that the storm will make landfall near Odisha's Puri district.

According to the IMD's latest update, the low-pressure system is likely to form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the north Andaman Sea within the next 24 hours. It is expected to move in a west-northwest direction and develop into a depression by October 22, intensifying into a cyclonic storm by October 23.

Taking to microblogging site X, the weather bureau wrote, "Under the influence of yesterday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea and adjoining eastcentral & southeast Bay of Bengal, a Low Pressure Area formed over the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea in the early morning (0530 hours IST) of today, the 21st October 2024"

It further added, "It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by 22nd October morning and into a cyclonic storm by 23rd October, 2024 over eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and reach northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts by 24th October morning".

Subject: Low Pressure Area formed over eastcentral Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Andaman SeaUnder the influence of yesterdays upper air cyclonic circulation over North Andaman Sea and adjoining eastcentral & southeast Bay of Bengal, a Low Pressure Area formed over the
India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 21, 2024

IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that this storm could evolve into a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds between 100-120 km/h. Heavy rainfall is forecasted for parts of Odisha from October 23 onwards.

Manorama Mohanty, director IMD Bhubaneswar, has, meanwhile, clarified that the upcoming cyclonic storm is unlikely to intensify into a super cyclonic or extremely severe cyclonic storm. The system might, however, strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds reaching 100-120 km/h.

"The cyclonic storm may intensify into a severe cyclonic storm. The wind speed may reach up to 100-120 kmph," Mohanty noted.

The weather bureau has issued a yellow warning for multiple districts in Odisha, predicting thunderstorms with lightning. The affected districts include Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, and Puri. Rainfall could reach up to 20-30 cm in some coastal areas on October 24-25.

In addition, parts of West Bengal, including Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, and Kolkata, are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall between October 23 and 25. A yellow alert has been issued for these areas as well.