Odisha Weather Alert: Cyclone Dana to Recurve, Heavy Rains Expected In Southern Regions

Cyclone Dana, classified as a severe cyclonic storm, is on a trajectory to hit the Odisha coast between late tonight and early Friday morning. This event could result in significant weather changes, including heavy rainfall in regions like Bhubaneswar, where wind speeds are anticipated to surge overnight. Manorama Mohanty, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, highlighted that after making landfall, Dana is likely to shift its course slightly towards the west and southwest. This adjustment in its path is forecasted to bring rain to southern Odisha around October 26.

The storm, currently positioned over the north-central Bay of Bengal, was around 260 kilometers southeast of Paradip and 290 kilometers south-southeast of Dhamra as of Thursday afternoon. Having intensified into a severe cyclonic storm around midnight, it has been advancing northwestward at a velocity of 12 kilometers per hour over the last six hours. "Cyclone Dana intensified into a severe cyclonic storm around midnight and has been moving northwestward at a speed of 12 km/h over the past six hours. Currently, it is centered over the north-central Bay of Bengal, around 260 km southeast of Paradip and 290 km south-southeast of Dhamra," Mohanty elucidated.

The cyclone's expected landfall near Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, between the northern Odisha and West Bengal coasts, remains on schedule with wind speeds predicted to hover around 100 to 110 kilometers per hour. Despite the projected recurvature post-landfall, the anticipated landfall spot and wind intensity have not been altered, confirmed Mohanty. This recurvature phenomenon, which involves a cyclone's path changing direction, typically occurs when a cyclone veers from a westward to a northward direction (meridional flow) and then shifts back eastward. If this directional change is abrupt and exceeds 60 degrees, it's termed as abrupt recurvature.

In anticipation of Cyclone Dana's impact, a red alert has been declared for several districts, including Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Jajpur, due to their proximity to the predicted path of the storm. Cuttack district is also poised to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Furthermore, an orange warning is in place for districts like Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar, with a yellow warning issued for Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, and Ganjam, indicating varied levels of expected rainfall and storm impact.

The cyclone's approach has already brought heavy rains to Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhadrak districts, causing numerous trees to be uprooted and blocking major thoroughfares. To mitigate the disruptions, fire services personnel are actively engaged in clearing the roads by removing the fallen debris.

As the cyclone continues its advance, authorities and citizens alike brace for its arrival, taking necessary precautions to minimize damage and ensure safety. The storm's progression is being closely monitored, with updates and warnings issued to keep the public informed and prepared for the impending weather conditions.