Cyclonic circulation forms over Bay of Bengal, heavy rains in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: A cyclonic circulation took shape over north-west Bay of Bengal, adjoining north Odisha and gangetic West Bengal on Saturday which may lead to formation of a low pressure area over north-west Bay on July 19, SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) said.

The cyclonic circulation will oscillate between coastal Odisha and Chhatisgarh till July 18 and then shift towards north-west Bay of Bengal, Dr SC Sahu, director of CEC, said.

The low pressure will gradually intensify into a depression and subsequently into deep depression by the evening of July 20 or forenoon of July 21 as remnants of another system over the South China Sea will merge with it on July 21, he said.

Under its influence, light to moderate rain with one or two intense spells is likely to continue up to July 19 over coastal Odisha, north Odisha and western Odisha districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur over coastal, central and interior districts of the state between July 20 and 22.

Both Odisha and Chhatisgarh may experience extremely heavy rainfall during the period but more extreme rainfall will be likely over western Odisha districts and Chhatisgarh on July 22 and 23, Dr. Sahu said.

This could lead to rise in the water level in rivers in Odisha while the torrential rains would offset the deficiency in precipitation across the state, he also said.