Cyclonic storm Vardah likely to spare Odisha

The cyclonic storm formed over the Bay of Bengal is likely to have least impact on Odisha as it is likely to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by Friday morning, said an IMD bulletin.

"The cyclonic storm will have least impact on Odisha as it will cross the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh. South Odisha would receive rainfall after December 11 under its impact," said Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.

He said Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) has been hoisted at Paradip and Gopalpur ports.

"The cyclonic storm Vardah over southeast Bay of Bengal moved further northwards during the past six hours with a speed of 9 kmph and lay centred at 8.30 a.m. over southeast Bay of Bengal," said an IMD release.

It lay centred about 1,050 km southeast of Gopalpur.

"The system is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards for some more time, then northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada around forenoon/noon of December 12," the bulletin said.

--IANS

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