Cyclone to trigger heavy rains in Odisha

Severe cyclonic storm ‘Helen’, packed with wind speed reaching up to 120 kmph, is likely to trigger heavy rains together with strong surface wind in some places of Odisha during next two days. It will hit southern Andhra Pradesh coast on Friday afternoon, the weather department has warned. The alert comes even as the state is yet to recover from the damages caused by cyclone ‘Phailin’ and heavy rain last month.

The storm, which moved slightly north-westwards and lay centred about 410 Km South-south-west of Gopalpur this morning, would move north-westwards then westward and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machillipatnam by tomorrow evening, the meteorological centre said.

India’s cyclone season generally lasts from April to December with severe storms often causing dozens of deaths, evacuations of tens of thousands of people from low-lying villages and widespread crop and property damage.

Rain or thundershower may occur at many places over Odisha, while heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places over the state during next 48 hours, it said.

Distant Warning Signal Number Two (DW-II) was hoisted at Paradeep and Gopalpur ports.

North easterly strong surface wind speed 45 to 55 KmPH and even up to 65 KmPH may prevail along and off south Odisha coast and 40 to 45 KmPH gusting to 55 KmPH may prevail along and off North Odisha coast, the MeT office said.

Fishermen of south Odisha coast are advised not to venture in to sea and and those in north Odisha coast are to be cautious while venturing into the sea.