Bhubaneswar, Sep 26: Cyclonic storm Gulab, which was centred around  140 km east-south-east of Gopalpur over north-west and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal this morning, is likely to cross south Odisha coast this evening, according to the Centre of Environment and Climate (CEC), SOA, today.

The system was moving at a speed of 18 km per hour during the last three hours while changing its course frequently, Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, said.  The storm was likely to cross the coast between Chikiti and Chatrapur close to Rangeilunda in Ganjam district this evening, he said.

After crossing the coast, its westward movement would continue with the same intensity for the next six to 12 hours, he said.

Under its impact, heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely to occur in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati,Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Balangir from today and continue till Monday afternoon. Moderate to heavy precipitation could be experienced in neighbouring districts during this period, Dr. Sahu said.

He said wind speed reaching 75 km per hour might be experienced in Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri districts while gusty wind of 45 to 55 km per hour could be observed in the districts of Khurda, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts. Dr. Sahu said a fresh low pressure area was likely to form over the bay this week.