A deep atmospheric depression intensifying over the Bay of Bengal is advancing steadily toward the eastern coastline. Weather officials have sounded an alert for multiple states due to the anticipated impact of Cyclone Arnab. Meteorological projections indicate intense to extremely heavy precipitation across parts of Odisha, West Bengal, and adjoining southern territories. Special advisories highlight the heightened danger of landslides in fragile hilly terrains such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
Maritime Warnings and Rough Sea Conditions
To safeguard coastal communities and maritime operators, authorities have instructed fishermen to avoid venturing into the open ocean until Friday. This restriction covers the waters along the coastline of West Bengal and Odisha, as well as the upper northern sections of the Bay of Bengal. Gale-force winds reaching speeds of 55 to 65 kilometers per hour are expected to churn the sea, creating hazardous surface conditions for small vessels and traditional trawlers.
Precautionary Evacuations Across Southern Odisha
The system began exerting its strength on Wednesday, drenching southern and littoral districts of Odisha under persistent cloudbursts. Facing the risk of severe inundation, disaster response personnel shifted at least 5,000 residents from low-lying, vulnerable neighborhoods into designated protective shelters. Authorities anticipate exceptionally intense downpours across several districts, keeping regional emergency response mechanisms on heightened readiness to manage waterlogging and infrastructure damage.
Track Projection and Expected Landfall Window
Meteorological models project that the disturbance will cross the shoreline between 5 PM on September 23 and 5 AM on September 24. Forecasters pinpoint the highest probability of landfall occurring before midnight on September 23. The center of this weather phenomenon is anticipated to make entry somewhere between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur. Coastal Andhra Pradesh is equally bracing for substantial disruptions, prompting administrative departments to reinforce preventive safety measures along the corridor.
