Bhubaneswar: Odisha is bracing up for heavy rainfall this week as a low pressure area (LOPAR) has formed over east central Bay of Bengal which may turn into a depression on Monday evening.
The Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University here said.
The intensification of the system was very slow but it was likely to move in a west-north westerly direction, Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, said.
It may become a deep depression on the evening of September 22 and cross the Odisha coast near Chilika lake on the night of September 23, he said.
There was, however, ambiguity about the landfall point as system intensification was not very prominent as yet, Dr. Sahu said adding it may also remain stationary over south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh.
The picture will become clear on September 22 afternoon, he said.
After landfall, the system could change direction and move in a northerly and then in a north-easterly direction and enter Jharkhand, Dr. Sahu said.
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue over the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Kataka, Khordha, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Nabarangpur, Dhenkanal and Anugol between September 21 and 23.
The districts of Khurda, Kataka and Nayagarh may experience extremely heavy rainfall during this period.
The heavy precipitation will then shift towards northern and western districts of Odisha between September 23 and 26.
The incessant rains could trigger floods in the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Subarnarekha and Budhabalanga river systems, Dr. Sahu said