Cyclone ‘FANI’ to hit Odisha coast by May 3 afternoon: IMD

Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ is very likely to reach Odisha coast by the afternoon of May 3 with maximum sustained wind of speed 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today.

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal lay centred about 830 km south of Puri at 8.30 am today. It is very likely to intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha coast by May 3 afternoon, a bulletin of the IMD issued at 12 noon said.

Under its impact, light  to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over south coastal Odisha on May 2. It is likely to increase with rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Odisha and its adjoining districts of interior Odisha on May 3 and over north Odisha on May 4, the bulletin said.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off Odisha coast from May 2 and very likely to become gale wind, speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from May 3 morning and become 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph over Odisha coast by May 3 evening, the bulletin added.