Bhubaneswar, October 25: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a red alert across five southern Odisha districts - Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri - as a very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28 forenoon.

Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director Manorama Mohanty on Sunday said that although the cyclonic storm will make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, it will trigger severe weather, extremely heavy rainfall, and gusty winds across Odisha, particularly impacting its southern regions.

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“A Red Alert has also been sounded for October 28 across five southern Odisha districts: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, where isolated extremely heavy rainfall and wind speeds of 50 to 60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, are anticipated,” said Mohanty.

According to the latest IMD bulletin, the depression lies over east-central adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, and it is very likely to intensify further into a deep depression by today, 25th October. It is also likely to intensify further and become a cyclonic storm by the morning of 26th October, and into a severe cyclonic storm on 27th October. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestward, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm, and reach west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of 28th October.

It is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm by the forenoon of 28th October. While crossing the coast, the wind speed will be around 115 to 125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h. Because of this, Odisha is likely to be impacted by rainfall activity and wind speed as well. However, the rainfall impact will be more significant, it added.

"After landfall, it is likely to move close to Malkangiri district, but it will remain in Andhra Pradesh. Because of this, we are expecting extremely heavy rainfall... Landslides may also occur because we are expecting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, especially in the hilly areas," said Mohanty.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been forecast for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Bargarh, and Nuapada on October 28, with widespread activity continuing into October 29 before receding substantially from October 30.

Meanwhile, IMD confirmed that Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 has been hoisted at all ports across Odisha. Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough with wind speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph along the Odisha coast, and fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea until October 29.