Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI” to cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali around Puri during forenoon of 3rd May 

Cyclone Warning for Odisha, West Bengal and Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram& Visakhapatnam Districts of Andhra Pradesh Coasts: Orange Message

The Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved further north-northeastwards with a speed of about 15 kmph in last six hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 02^nd May, 2019 over Westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 16.2°N and longitude 84.6°E, about 420 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), 210 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 610 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 Vishakhapatnam & Machilipatnam.

Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

    Warnings: 

• Heavy rainfall warning
• North Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram district and isolated heavy to extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) over Srikakulam district on 2^nd May and with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Srikakulam district on 3^rd
• Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls (over Ganjam & Gajapati districts) at isolated places very likely over south coastal & adjoining interior Odisha on 2^nd 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 at isolated places over coastal Odisha & adjoining districts of interior Odisha on 3^rd. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over Balasore, Mayurbhanj districts of north Odisha on 4^th 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 3^rd; and heavy to very falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal on 4^th Light to moderate rainfall at most places with 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 heavy falls very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya on 4^th & 5^th May; with isolated extremely heavy falls over Assam & Meghalaya on 4^th. Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls very likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on 4^th.

(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 24 hours and decrease thereafter.
• Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to prevail along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts and become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 2^nd May night. It is very likely to become 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along & off south Odisha & adjoining north Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam District) coasts; and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph along & off remaining districts of coastal Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram Districts) by 3^rd May forenoon 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 from 2^nd May evening. It is very likely become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3^rd May afternoon and become 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph from 4^th May early morning for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter.
• Sea condition
• The sea condition is phenomenal over westcentral Bay of Bengal, off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts till 03 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha & West Bengal till 04 May.
• Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry, along & off south Andhra Pradesh Coasts till 03 May.
• 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.
• Fishermen Warning
• The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, Southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours; over westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast till 03 May and over northwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts till 04 May.
• Those, who are out in deep sea above areas are advised to return to the coasts.
• (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. (vii) Hoarding, flex and banners hanging loose are likely to fly and damage surroundings. These should be removed.

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.