New Delhi: A depression over the Bay of Bengal is very likely to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The forecast projects maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, at the crossing. It is based on the system’s position at 5.30 am on October 25; the system was still a depression at that time.
Storm forecast to intensify over three days
IMD said the depression was centred near latitude 15.3°N and longitude 91.2°E, about 880 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It had moved southeastwards at 5 kmph over the preceding six hours.
It is very likely to move nearly southwards and intensify into a deep depression on October 25 before gradually recurving west-northwestwards.
The forecast places its intensification into a cyclonic storm on the morning of October 26 and a severe cyclonic storm around the morning of October 27. It is then very likely to move northwestwards, become a very severe cyclonic storm and approach the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.
