Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI” over Westcentral Bay of Bengal: Cyclone Alert for Odisha, West Bengal and Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram & Visakhapatnam

source ;IMD 1 May 2019 ;IST15;30

The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm „FANI‟ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of about 06 kmph in last six hours and lay centred at 1430 hrs IST of 01st May, 2019 over Westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 14.5°N and longitude 84.1°E, about 610 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), 360 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 800 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal). It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri during 3 rd May afternoon with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph. The cyclone is being tracked by Doppler Weather Radars Chennai, Vishakhapatnam & Machilipatnam.

Warnings:

 (i) Heavy rainfall warning 

 North Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) at isolated places very likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram Districts) on 2nd May and with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on 3rd May over same area

.  Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south coastal Odisha on 2nd May. It is likely to increase with moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) at isolated places over coastal Odisha & adjoining districts of interior Odisha on 3rd. Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over north Odisha on 4th May. 

 West Bengal: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal & adjoining districts of West Bengal on 3rd and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and heavy falls at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on 4 th May. 

 Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very rainfall very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya on 4 th and 5 th May.

 (ii) Wind warning

  Gale wind speed reaching 180-190 kmph gusting to 210 kmph is very likely to prevail over westcentral Bay of Bengal around system centre during next 36 hours and decrease thereafter. 

 Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely along & off Tamilnadu coast, Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and Kerala during next 12 hours.

  Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts from 2nd May and very likely to become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 2 nd May night and become 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along & off south Odisha Coast & adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam District) and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph along & off remaining districts coastal Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram Districts) by 3rd May noon for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter. 

 Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely along & off West Bengal coast on 2 nd May. It would become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3 rd May evening and become 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph from 4th May early morning for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter.

 (ii)Sea condition 

 The sea condition is phenomenal over westcentral Bay of Bengal, off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 01-03 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal during 02-04 May. 

 Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 01-03 May and high to phenomenal along & off Odisha and West Bengal Coasts during 02-04 May. 

(iii)Storm surge Warning 

 Storm surge of about 1.5 meter height above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri & Jagatsinghpur Districts of Odisha at the time of landfall. 

(iv)Fishermen Warning 

 The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours; Southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts till 1st May; westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast during 1-3 May and northwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts from 2-4 May. 

 Those, who are out in deep sea above areas are advised to return to the coasts. 

(v) 

(a) Damage Expected and Action suggested for Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.

 (i) Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures. Potential threat from flying objects. 

(ii) Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles. 

(iii) Disruption of rail/road link at several places.

 (iv) Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards. 

(v) Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees. 

(vi) Uprooting of large bushy trees.

 (vii) Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings. Action Suggested: 

(i)Total suspension of fishing operations.

 (ii) Extensive evacuation from coastal areas.

 (iii) Diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic.

 (iv) People in affected areas to remain indoors.

 (v) Movement in motor boats and small ships not advisable. 

(b) Damage Expected and action suggested for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore districts of Odisha and east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh 

(i) Total destruction of thatched houses/ extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to pucca houses. Potential threat from flying objects.

 (ii) Bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles.

 (iii) Major damage to Kutcha and Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes. Minor disruption of railways, overhead powerlines and signalling systems.

 (iv) Widespread damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds. Blowing down of bushy trees like mango. 

(v) Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings.

 (vi) Visibility severely affected. Action Suggested: 

(i) Total suspension of fishing operations. Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas. 

(ii) Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. 

(iii) People in affected areas to remain indoors.

 (iv) Movement in motor boats and small ships unsafe.

Source ; IMD