Potential Cyclone ‘Michaung’ Likely to Intensify, Impact Odisha-Andhra Coast

Bhubaneswar: A potentially severe cyclonic storm is expected to develop in the Bay of Bengal after November 29, with indications suggesting it could cross the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast. The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre-Tropical Cyclones issued a weather outlook based on insights from the IMD GFS model.

According to the model, an extended low-pressure area is likely to form in the southwest Bay of Bengal on November 27, followed by a depression on November 30. The system is expected to intensify further into a cyclonic storm on December 1 and continue to strengthen. The projected path suggests a north-northwestward movement until December 4, followed by a north-northeastward curvature. The system is forecasted to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast on December 5 as a very severe cyclonic storm, subsequently moving along the coast with rapid weakening.

The ECMWF model, on the other hand, predicts the formation of a depression on November 29 over the southeast Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a cyclonic storm on December 2 in the southwest Bay of Bengal. Further intensification is expected, with a projected crossing over the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast on December 6.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) official forecast notes the formation of a low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining Malacca Strait, set to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 29. Subsequently, it is expected to move northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southeast Bay of Bengal in the following 48 hours. The potential cyclonic storm will be named Cyclone ‘Michaung’ if it reaches cyclonic storm intensity.