The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a critical red alert for southern Odisha as a deep depression, originating over the Bay of Bengal, made landfall near Kalingapatnam on Wednesday night. This weather system is anticipated to bring severe conditions including flash floods, landslides, and rockfalls, prompting the evacuation of thousands from vulnerable low-lying areas and the closure of schools across the affected region.
The deep depression, which crossed the coast between Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, was moving northwestwards at approximately 5 kmph. At its peak during landfall, the system brought wind speeds of 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph. Had it intensified into a full-fledged cyclonic storm, it would have been named "Arnab." The IMD predicts the depression will maintain its intensity for about 12 hours while continuing its northwestward trajectory, before gradually weakening over the subsequent 24 hours as it turns north-northwestwards.
State-Wise Rainfall Warnings
Odisha: Southern districts, including Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi, and Malkangiri, are under an extremely heavy downpour forecast. Koraput, Gajapati, and Ganjam face a high alert for heavy to very heavy rain through September 24, with similar conditions persisting in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri on September 24 and 25.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, & Chhattisgarh: These states are braced for heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Thundersqualls with winds of 50-60 kmph and gusts up to 70 kmph are also expected.
Eastern India: Warnings for heavy rain extend to parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Vidarbha, and East Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi's Weather Outlook
The National Capital Region (Delhi) is expected to experience largely dry weather today and tomorrow, with maximum temperatures around 35°C and minimums near 23°C. However, scattered rain, light thunderstorms, and wind gusts of 30-50 kmph are projected to affect parts of Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh starting Saturday, September 25.