The depression in the north Andaman Sea, which is turning into a cyclonic storm, will intensify by the end of Wednesday and is expected to hit Andhra Pradesh by 12 October, the Met Department said.
The cyclonic storm, named Hudhud, has already approached the coastal areas and is 1170 kms ahead of Gopalpur district in southeast Odisha. However, the cyclonic storm is expected to skip Odisha, which was reportedly prepared to deal with the cyclone and its aftermath. The state was hit by cyclone Phailin last year.
"As of now the cyclonic storm may not touch Odisha as per the met report, but there will not be any change in our preparedness. We will concentrate more on south Odisha neighbouring Andhra Pradesh," Hindustan Times quoted Odisha deputy relief commissioner Prabhat Ranjan Mohapatra as saying.
While Hudhud might spare Odisha, it is certain to travel its course from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Andhra Pradesh, which will come under its grasp as early as Sunday.
"The Deep Depression over North Andaman Sea & neighbourhood moved west-north-westward and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 8th October 2014 over North Andaman Sea & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude12.2ºN and longitude 93.0ºE about 1170 KM Southeast of Gopalpur," Odisha Sun Times cited the bulletin by the Met Department.
"It would intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It would cross Andaman & Nicobar Islands close to Long Island within a few hours. Thereafter, the system would continue to move west-north-westwards towards north Andhra Pradesh," it added.
As the cyclonic storm will cross the Bay of Bengal, it is expected to hit the eastern India as well, resulting in heavy rainfall and winds.
"This system is expected to press north-westward passing over the Andaman Islands...Once this occurs, it is likely to continue to strengthen as it moves north-westward through the Bay of Bengal. At this point, it appears as though this system has the potential to make landfall in eastern India where it could produce strong winds and flooding rainfall over the course of the weekend," OST cited information from Accuweather.
