Bhubaneswar: A fresh low pressure that formed over Andaman Sea on Saturday is expected to intensify into a deep depression and approach the Odisha coast by Sept 23, though there is no clarity yet on whether it would turn into a cyclone.“The system will very likely to intensify into a deep depression as indicated and cause rainfall in the state at least four days, from Sept 22 to 25,” said Manorama Mohanty, scientist and head of the regional IMD centre in the city.Mohanty said they issued orange and yellow warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall for several districts across the state, including in coastal and south pockets. She said fishermen were advised to return from sea by Sept 21. She said thunderstorm activity warning would also continue in several districts.Former director of the regional IMD centre Sarat Chandra Sahu too said the system has more chance of intensifying into a deep depression so far, even as some models indicate the system may intensify to a cyclonic storm. He also shared that the state would witness heavy rainfall across the state, covering central Odisha pockets, including mostly south and coastal districts.“The govt has sounded an alert to district collectors in wake of the fresh IMD forecast,” said a senior official at the office of the special relief commissioner.IMD’s latest bulletin said the low pressure area formed over north Andaman Sea in the evening would likely move west-northwestwards and intensify gradually into a depression over east-central Bay of Bengal on Sept 21 and into a deep depression over west-central Bay of Bengal on Sept 22.Thereafter, continuing to move west-northwestwards, it would very likely reach west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal near south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around Sept 23 morning. IMD has issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts from Sept 23, while a yellow warning would continue from Sept 21.The bulletin indicates thunderstorm activity warning would continue in some districts in next two days.
