LOPAR Forms Over Bay of Bengal, Odisha Braces for Heavy Rain: CEC

Bhubaneswar, Oct 1 : A low-pressure area (LOPAR) developed over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the South Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday morning and is moving northwards, the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of SOA Deemed to be University said.

CEC Director Dr. S.C. Sahu stated that the system is intensifying rapidly and may evolve into a depression by Tuesday evening or night. According to forecasts, it is likely to change course slightly, moving north-northwest, and cross the Odisha coast near Chilika Lake between Ganjam and Puri districts on Wednesday afternoon. The system is then expected to track further inland across Odisha before moving towards Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand by Friday.

Under its influence, moderate rainfall is likely across most parts of coastal, western, and northeastern Odisha, while heavy to very heavy showers are predicted in several districts. The affected districts include Puri, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Kandhamal, Balangir, and Bargarh.

Dr. Sahu further said that rainfall activity is expected to gradually subside from Friday afternoon.