Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ moved further north-northeastwards with a speed of about 18 kmph in last six hours and lay centred over Coastal Odisha

IMD, KalimNews, 4 May 2019: Regarding the cyclone Fani the IMD had issued the following bulletin at 1 am this morning in its website. 

The Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over Coastal Odisha moved further north-northeastwards with a speed of about 18 kmph in last six hours and lay centred at 2330 hrs IST of 03rd May, 2019 over Coastal Odisha near latitude 21.9°N and longitude 87.1°E, about 45 km north-northeast of Balasore (Odisha), 60 km southwest of Midnapore (West Bengal) and 140 km west-southwest of Kolkata (West Bengal).

It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken further into a cyclonic storm during next 12hours. It is very likely to emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 90-100 Kmph gusting to 115 Kmph by early morning of 4th May.It is very likely to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on 4th May evening as a Cyclonic Storm with wind speed 70-80 Kmph gusting to 90 Kmph.

Warnings: 

(i)Heavy rainfall warning

Odisha:Moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places over north Odisha and isolated heavy rain fall over south coastal Odisha & adjoining districts of south interior Odisha on 3rdMay. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places likely over Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of north Odisha on 4th May. 

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

Arunachal Pradesh,Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya on 4th & 5th May; with isolated extremely heavy falls over Assam & Meghalaya on 4th. Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls very likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on 4th. 

(ii) Wind warning

Galewind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100kmph is likely to prevail over Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj and remaining districts of northcoastal Odisha during next 06hours.Galewind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph is very likely over west & east Medinipur district during next six hours. It is likely to be 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over Kolkata, Howrah, Hoogli, north &south 24 Parganas during early morning to noon and decrease thereafter. Galewind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph is also likely along & off West Bengal coast during the same period.

(iii) Sea condition

The sea condition is likely to become very rough to high along and off West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh Coasts during next 18hours.

(iv) Storm surge Warning 

Storm surge of about 0.5 to 1 meter height above astronomical tide is m surge WarningStorm surge of about 0.5 to 1 meter height above astronomical tide is vevery likely to inundate low lying areas of Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak Districts of Odisha and east Medinipur district of West Bengal during next 06 hours.

(v) Fishermen Warning

The fishermen are advised not to venture into northwest Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts till 04 May.

(vi) (a) Damage Expected and Action suggested for Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha during next 03 hours:(i) Major damage to thatched houses/ huts. Roof tops may blow off. Unattached metal sheets may fly.(ii) Minor damage to power and communication lines.(iii) Major damage to Kutcha and some damage to Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes.(iv) Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of large avenue trees.(v)Moderate damage to banana and papaya trees. Large dead limbs blown from trees. (vi)Major damage to coastal crops. (vii) Damage to embankments/ salt pans.

Action Suggested:(i)Total suspension of fishing operations over northwest Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha Coast till 04th May. (ii) Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places. People in affected areas to remain indoors.(iii) Movement in motor boats unsafe.(iv) Hoarding, flex and banners hanging loose are likely to fly and damage surroundings. These should be removed.

(b) Damage Expected and action suggested for east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal (i) Major damage to thatched houses/ huts. Roof tops may blow off. Unattached metal sheets may fly.(ii) Minor damage to power and communication lines.(iii) Major damage to Kutcha and some damage to Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes.(iv) Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of large avenue trees. Moderate damage to banana and papaya trees. Large dead limbs blown from trees. (v) Major damage to coastal crops. (vi) Damage to embankments/ salt pans.

Action Suggested:(i) Total suspension of fishing operations over northwest Bay of Bengal along & off north Odisha and West Bengal Coasts till 04th May.(ii) Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places.People in affected areas to remain indoors.(iii) Movement in motor boats unsafe.