A low-pressure system is expected to gain strength and turn into a depression by October 22, before further intensifying into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over the east-central Bay of Bengal. The system will then move northwest, reaching the northwest Bay of Bengal near the Odisha-West Bengal coast by October 24 morning as a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall between Puri and Sagar Islands, affecting north Odisha and West Bengal coasts, on the night of October 24 to early morning of October 25. It will bring severe weather conditions with wind speeds touching 100-110kmph and gusts up to 120kmph.
A low-pressure area over the central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea was formed in the last two days. It moved west-northwestwards and lay as a well-marked low-pressure area over east-central Bay of Bengal on October 21, reported the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In a special bulletin, the weather office has further predicted light to moderate rain/thundershowers (7-11cm) in Purba and Paschim Medinipur and North- and South 24-Parganas districts and a few places over in south Bengal on October 23.For October 24, IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20cm) in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24-Parganas and Jhargram districts. Heavy rainfall (7-11cm) at one or two places is also likely to occur over the rest districts of south Bengal and continue till the next day. Heavy rainfall (7-11cm at one or two places) is likely to occur over the rest districts of Gangetic West Bengal during October 25.
Wind speeds reaching 40-50kmph gusting at 60kmph is very likely to commence from October 23 morning in north Bengal. It would gradually increase turning into gale wind speeds reaching 100-110 kmph gusting at 120kmph from October 24 evening to October 25 morning and lose steam thereafter.
IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into deep sea over Andaman Sea till October 22, east-central Bay of Bengal till October 24, adjoining areas of west-central Bay of Bengal on October 23 and 25; northern Bay of Bengal and along Odisha, West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts during October 23 to 25. Fishermen out at sea are advised to return to the coast.