Cyclone Warning Issued for Bay of Bengal as Depression Intensifies

A strong low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Andaman Sea is rapidly strengthening into a deep depression, according to the India Meteorological Department. Officials report that the system will likely transform into a cyclone within 24 hours and move in a west-northwest direction to reach near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 2.

Regional Impacts

Mathrubhumi notes that coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam in Puducherry face heavy to extremely heavy rainfall warnings for November 2 and 3, while Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh expects rain on the same days and Odisha faces warnings for November 3 and 4. Kerala is also expected to receive isolated strong rainfall from November 1 to 4 due to a separate cyclonic circulation sitting over the southern Maharashtra coast.

Wind Warnings

Fishermen and vessels face severe conditions as winds in the southeast Bay of Bengal reach 45 to 55 kilometres per hour today, occasionally hitting 65 kilometres per hour. Conditions worsen tomorrow as winds across parts of the south and central-west Bay of Bengal surge between 60 and 90 kilometres per hour, potentially peaking at 100 kilometres per hour.

Context

This incoming weather threat follows closely on the heels of Cyclone Arnab, which struck the region on October 28 with speeds reaching 130 kilometres per hour between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Heavy rains from that previous storm triggered a landslide in Odisha's Ganjam district where national disaster response teams are still searching for 12 missing people.