Bhubaneswar: Apart from cancelling leaves of Agriculture department’s field officials of five districts for five days, the Odisha government has issued an advisory to all the districts, which are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall from Monday under the influence of cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’, which is gaining strength over southwest Bay of Bengal.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm is likely to cross the South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of December 5 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall in South coastal and adjoining South interior Odisha during December 4-6.
“Cyclone ‘Michaung’ over southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of 5 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 8.30 am today, about 290 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 290 km southeast of Chennai, 420 km southeast of Nellore, 530 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 530 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. It is likely to continue to move northwestwards, intensify further and reach westcentral Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon. Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 4 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph,” the weather agency said in a special bulletin.
While light to moderate rain/thundershower may resume at a few places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam and at one or two places in rest districts of coastal Odisha, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal on December 3, the intensity of downpour is likely to increase in the next 3 days.
RAIN WARNING
December 4
Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is likely at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at many places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti, Ganjam, Puri, at a few places in Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nayagarh, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack & at one or two places in remaining parts of the state.
December 5
Orange Warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) is likely at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) may also occur at one or two places in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri.
Light to moderate rain/ thundershower is also likely at most places in South coastal Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and at many places in South interior Odisha, North coastal Odisha and at a few places in North interior Odisha.
December 6
Yellow Warning: Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) is likely at one or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada.
Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at most places in coastal Odisha, and at many places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, and Koraput and at a few places in remaining districts of Odisha.
December 7
Light to moderate rain/thundershower may occur at a few places in the state.
IMPACT & SUGGESTIONS
>> Some damage to standing crops and vegetables are likely.
Temporary waterlogging and some damages of kutcha Road and possibility of wall collapse of kutcha houses
>> Harvesting of matured paddy, ragi, millets, cotton and other crops, horticultural crops and vegetables may be completed by December 3. Harvested crop may be kept in safe place.
>> Make provision for drainage of excess water from agricultural fields, having standing crops and vegetables.
>> Intercultural activity, application of fertilisers and pesticides may be postponed.
>> Also postpone sowing of rabi crops like maize, wheat, pulses, oil seeds, vegetables, and spices.
>> Staying in vulnerable kutcha houses may be avoided.
WIND WARNING
The weather agency further informed that squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur) from December evening and gradually increase becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from December 5 evening for subsequent 12 hours. Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is likely over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha on December 5.
FISHERMEN WARNING
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea areas of southwest Bay of Bengal till December 5; westcentral Bay of Bengal till December 6 and along & off Odisha coast during December 4 evening to December 6. Those out at sea have been asked to return to coast.
PORT WARNING
Distant warning no 2 has been hoisted at all ports of Odisha.
SRC ADVISORY
>> Districts under orange/ yellow warning to keep administrative machinary ready to face any eventuality particularly water logging/landslide in the hilly areas
>> In case of very heavy rain, people of low-lying areas may be shifted to safer locaions temporarily, if required
>> People may be advised to keep watch on the weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity
>> Advice for fishermen to be strictly implemented
>> Farmers may be advised to follow the advisory issued by OUTA/ director of Agriculture & Food production and take necessary measures to protect the vegetables, horticulture crops, standing paddy crops, harvested crops and paddy in mandis
>> Heavy to very heavy rainfall recorded may be reported immediately to this office
>> Situation report on heavy rainfall may be submitted immediately for information of the government
