Bhubaneswar: The latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggests that Cyclone ‘Dana’, brewing over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to make landfall along the Odisha coast between Bhitarkanika in Kendrapada and Dhamra in Bhadrak districts on the night of October 24.
The Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University confirmed this prediction. Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of the CEC, stated that the storm is likely to intensify and strike the coastal areas of Kendrapada and Bhadrak districts late on October 24.
Currently, the depression is moving in a west-northwesterly direction and is expected to develop into a cyclonic storm over the Westcentral Bay of Bengal by the evening of October 23. Dr. Sahu explained, “The system will maintain this course for another 24 hours before veering northwest, eventually crossing the Odisha coast on October 24 night.”
According to forecasts, wind speeds could reach up to 120 kmph in the Bay of Bengal on the afternoon of October 24. However, by the time it reaches the coast, wind speeds are expected to reduce to between 85-110 kmph. In Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas, wind speeds may range between 55-70 kmph on the night of October 24, while in Berhampur, winds may reach 45-55 kmph on October 25.
Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to begin in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Keonjhar districts from the evening of October 22 and continue through the next day. Heavy to very heavy rain is anticipated in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Nayagarh, and Ganjam from the afternoon of October 24, continuing into October 25.
Following the landfall, the cyclone is expected to weaken as it moves in a south-southwesterly direction toward Koraput district, bringing rains to southern Odisha until October 26, Dr. Sahu added.
The Odisha government and disaster response teams are on high alert, preparing for the impact of Cyclone Dana, while urging residents in affected areas to take necessary precautions.