Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: A well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression by Wednesday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. The system is expected to move towards Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and southern Andhra Pradesh, with little direct impact on Odisha.

However, light to moderate rainfall is likely across Odisha till October 26, with isolated heavy showers expected on the 25th and 26th, particularly in western parts of the state.

Districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri may see rain with thunderstorms from October 22 to 24.

Weather expert Prof. Surendranath Pasupalak said the current system may not deepen into a depression but could merge with a second developing low-pressure system expected around October 24–25. The intensity and path of this combined system remain uncertain.

Dr. Sarat Sahu, Director of the SOA Centre for Environment and Climate, added that another cyclonic circulation may form over the southern Bay of Bengal around October 25–26, with potential for further development. A similar system may also emerge around October 29–30.