The India Meteorological Department said a low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal on Friday, October 23. It is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26. The system is moving towards north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha as officials track its changing path.
A weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a low-pressure area and is expected to intensify into a cyclone over the coming days, potentially bringing changing weather conditions along India's eastern coast.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in a special bulletin issued on Friday, October 23, said the system formed at 5:30 am over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal.
The system is now expected to move west-northwestwards towards the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha as it grows stronger.
The forecast puts the eastern coastline on watch as meteorologists track the system's movement and intensity.
However, the IMD has not yet confirmed where, or whether, the system will make landfall.
WHEN WILL THE CYCLONE ARRIVE?
According to the IMD, the low-pressure area is very likely to intensify into a depression by October 24 and strengthen further into a deep depression by October 25.
The system is then expected to become a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.
After that, it is forecast to continue moving west-northwestwards towards north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha, intensifying further over the following two days.
A depression is a weather system in which air pressure falls and winds strengthen. If conditions remain favourable, it can develop into a cyclone, bringing stronger winds and heavy rainfall.
The system's eventual strength and impact will depend on how it develops over the coming days.
HOW DID THE SYSTEM FORM?
The latest update follows an earlier warning issued by the IMD on Thursday, when a cyclonic circulation was present over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal.
The weather department had indicated that the circulation could develop into a low-pressure area and strengthen further. Friday's bulletin confirms that the low-pressure area has now formed, setting the stage for the system to strengthen further.
October is part of the post-monsoon cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal, when weather systems can strengthen over warm ocean waters under favourable atmospheric conditions.
The IMD is continuing to monitor the system as it moves across the Bay of Bengal.
Its movement, intensity and possible impact on the coastline should become clearer as it develops over the next few days.