Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’: Odisha braces for Storm

The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved further north-northeastwards with a speed of about 16 kmph in last six hours and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of 02nd May, 2019 over Westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 16.7°N and longitude 84.8°E, about 360 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), 190 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 550 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal). It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri by the afternoon of 3rd May with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.

Heavy rainfall warning

Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls (over Ganjam & Gajapati districts) at isolated places very likely over south coastal & adjoining interior Odisha on 2nd May. It is likely to increase with moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Odisha & adjoining districts of interior Odisha on 3rd. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over Balasore, Mayurbhanj districts of north Odisha on 4th May.

West Bengal: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal & adjoining districts of West Bengal on 3rd; and heavy to very falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal on 4th May. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on 4th May.

Gale wind speed reaching 180-190 kmph gusting to 210 kmph is very likely to prevail over westcentral Bay of Bengal around system centre during next 24 hours and decrease thereafter.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to prevail along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts and become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 2nd May night. It is very likely to become 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along & off south Odisha & adjoining north Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam District) coasts; and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph along & off remaining districts of coastal Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram Districts) by 3rd May forenoon for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely along & off West Bengal coast from 2nd May evening. It is very likely become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3rd May afternoon and become 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph from 4th May early morning for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter.

The sea condition is phenomenal over westcentral Bay of Bengal, off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts till 03 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha & West Bengal till 04 May.

Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry, along & off south Andhra Pradesh Coasts till 03 May.

Storm surge of about 1.5 meter height above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri & Jagatsinghpur Districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.

The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, Southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours; over westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast till 03 May and over northwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts till 04 May.

Damage Expected and Action suggested for Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures. Potential threat from flying objects. (ii) Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles. (iii) Disruption of rail/road link at several places. (iv) Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards. (v) Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees. (vi) Uprooting of large bushy trees. (vii) Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.
Damage Expected and action suggested for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore districts of Odisha and east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh