New Delhi: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving towards the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to several areas. The India Meteorological Department has forecast that the system will cross the coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur by the night of September 23.
The weather system intensified into a deep depression on Tuesday and has continued moving west northwestwards. The latest IMD bulletin placed it around 100 km east southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and about 150 km south of Gopalpur in Odisha.
Odisha is expected to face particularly heavy rainfall, with several districts under heightened weather alerts. Southern districts could receive heavy to very heavy rain, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at isolated locations. Authorities have also taken precautionary measures in vulnerable areas.
Andhra Pradesh is also expected to experience widespread rain along the coast. Strong squally winds are forecast along and off the north Andhra and south Odisha coasts, while sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough.
Despite widespread references to “Cyclone Arnab”, the IMD has currently classified the system as a deep depression, not a cyclone. Arnab is the next name on the regional list of cyclone names and was contributed by Bangladesh. The system would have to intensify further before the name officially comes into use.
West Bengal, including Kolkata, is also expected to experience cloudy conditions and periods of rain as the system influences weather patterns over the region.
Authorities in affected areas have advised residents to remain alert as the system approaches the coast and rainfall intensifies.
