West Bengal and Odisha are bracing for an impact from Cyclone Dana. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ is expected to bring heavy rainfall in several southern parts of West Bengal, including Kolkata.
The IMD has predicted that the storm will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the northwest Bay of Bengal. It is expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port in Odisha early Friday, with wind speeds reaching up to 120 km/h.
Meanwhile, in Odisha, three ports have issued the great danger signal number 10. The Indian Coast Guard is also on “high alert” and has deployed its vessels and aircraft, strategically positioning them to respond quickly to any emergency at sea.
Extremely heavy rainfall warning
In its latest weather update issued on October 23, the IMD said that light to moderate rainfall is expected in most areas, with heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) at isolated locations across the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur, Puri, and Khorda in Odisha, beginning from the evening of October 23. On October 24 and 25, heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated spots in the districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsingpur, Kendujhar, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Khorda, and Puri.
On October 24 and 25, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in several places, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated spots in South and North 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly, Kolkata, and Bankura districts of Gangetic West Bengal.
In south Jharkhand, light to moderate rainfall is expected in most areas, with heavy rainfall at isolated locations on October 24 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated spots on October 25.
Ports on alert
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, stated that Great Danger Signal Number 10 has been issued at Dhamra, Paradip, and Puri ports, while Gopalpur port has been given Great Danger Signal Number 8. Signal Number 10 is issued for ports likely to experience severe weather due to a highly intense storm, with wind speeds of 89 km/h or more. It also indicates that the cyclonic storm is expected to pass over or near these ports.
Smog blankets Delhi
For the third consecutive day, Delhi recorded air quality in the ‘very poor’ category, making it the most polluted city in the country on Wednesday. The city reported a 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 364, an increase from Tuesday’s AQI of 327.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has forecast that the AQI will remain in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ categories over the next six days. “Meteorological conditions are unfavorable for effective pollutant dispersion, as calm winds prevailed during Tuesday night,” the institute noted.
As per the update by RWFC Delhi, the city is expected to see mostly clear skies during the day with the maximum temperature reaching 33 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature hits 19 degree Celsius.