Depression crosses north Orissa coast

Visakhapatnam, Aug 17: The depression over north-west Bay of Bengal which moved westwards and crossed north Orissa coast near Chandbali last night, lay centered over the land close to 100 kms off Champa.

According to special weather bulletin by the Cyclone Warning Centre, the system was likely to move in a West-North-Westerly direction and may weaken gradually.

The bulletin said, under the influece, rain or thundershowers are likely to occur. Many places in north coastal Andhra Pradesh may receive isolated heavy rainfall. Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at a few other places over the rest of coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours, it added.

Strong surface winds from westerly direction with speed reaching 50 to 55 kmph, are likely to blew along and off north coastal Andhra Pradesh and strong surface winds from westerly direction, the speed reaching 45 to 50 kmph, are likely along and off south coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours.

The sea would be rough to very rough and fishermen were advised not to venture out for fishing.

Distant cautionary signal number one was kept hoisted at Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam port and Section signal number one at Kakinada port, the bulletin added.

UNI