Bhubaneswar, Sept 26: Strong winds in Odisha left many residents wondering whether the state was experiencing a cyclone. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintained that the system was a deep depression, not a cyclonic storm.

Meteorologists said Bhubaneswar experienced winds of around 40-45 kmph, with gusts reaching about 56 kmph, while Puri recorded winds of nearly 50 kmph and gusts exceeding 70 kmph.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center had classified the system differently, highlighting the variation between international and IMD assessments. Experts, however, said the cyclone-like conditions in several places were largely due to the system's extensive outer cloud bands, strong pressure gradients and downward movement of air from rain-bearing clouds.