Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI” likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours

New Delhi: Yesterday’s cyclonic storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over southeast Bay of Bengal (BoB) & neighbourhood moved nearly northwards and intensified into severe cyclonic storm in the same evening (1730 hrs IST). Continuing to move nearly northwards, it intensified further into very severe cyclonic stormover southeast and adjoining southwest BoB in the early morning (0530 hrs IST) of today, the 30^th April 2019.  At 1130 hrs IST of today it lay  centred over southwest & adjoining southeast of BoB near latitude 12.6°N and longitude 85.7°E, about 800 km south of Puri (Odisha), 620 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and about 660 km north-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka).

It is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till 01^st May evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around 3^rd May afternoon with maximum sustained wind of speed 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph.

Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

Warnings:

1. Heavy rainfall warning

• North Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram Districts) on 2^ndMay and rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on 3^rd May.
• Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south coastal Odisha on 2^nd May. It is likely to increase with rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) at isolated places over coastal Odisha & its adjoining districts of interior Odisha on 3^rd and over north Odisha on 4^th May.
• West Bengal: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on 3^rd and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal on 4^th May.

2.  Wind warning

• Gale wind speed reaching 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph is prevailing over Southwest Bay & adjoining Southeast of Bengal. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph over Westcentral & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coast from 1^st May morning onwards.
• Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely along & off Tamilnadu & Puducherry coast, Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and Kerala on 30^th.
• Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts from 2^nd May and very likely to become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3^rd May morning and become 175-185 kmph gusting 205 kmph over Odisha Coast and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh by 3^rd May evening.
• 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 4^th May morning.

3. Sea condition

• The sea condition is phenomenal over Southwest Bay and adjoining Southeast & westcentral Bay of Bengal, off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coasts. It is very likely to be phenomenal over westcentral Bay of Bengal during 1-3 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal during 2-4 May.
• Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 1-3 May and high to phenomenal along & off Odisha and West Bengal Coasts during 2-4 May.

4.  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.

5.      Fishermen Warning

• The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 30^th April; Southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts till 1^st May; westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast during 1-3 May 2019 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.

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

1. 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, iv. Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees, v. Uprooting of large bushy trees, vi. 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 and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh

(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.