Bay of Bengal Low-Pressure Area May Form Cyclone by Nov 16
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a low-pressure system developed Friday morning over the southeast Bay of Bengal and may strengthen into a cyclonic storm over the central bay by Monday evening, November 16, The Hindu reported. The Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam said the system is very likely to move northwestwards, strengthen into a well-marked low-pressure system Saturday and reach depression status Sunday morning before shifting north-northwestwards, The Hindu reported.
Coastal Advisories and Fishing Ban
According to The Hindu, dry weather is expected over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema until November 16, followed by light to moderate rain at isolated places on November 17 alongside squally winds of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast. Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain said current forecasts indicate movement toward north Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts, though the exact track, intensity, and landfall location remain unclear, The Hindu reported. Jain cautioned fishermen against entering rough seas from Sunday and urged the public to rely only on official updates rather than social media rumours, The Hindu added. Moderate rains may occur in isolated areas of Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, according to The Week.
Rediff reported that the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department banned fishermen in Tuticorin district from going to sea until further notice, halting operations from Vembar to Periyathazhai and affecting over 50,000 fishermen leaving over 270 mechanised vessels, 2,000 country craft, and 5,000 fibre boats moored. The New Indian Express and Rediff noted the system follows recent Cyclones Arnab and Murasu, with Cyclone Murasu having killed nine fishermen from Kasimedu in Chennai after their boat capsized. In Bangladesh, Bangladesh Meteorological Department meteorologist Md Omar Faruk said the system may move toward Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts while keeping weather across Bangladesh mainly dry until Tuesday, Dhaka Tribune reported. If the system intensifies into a cyclone, it could be named Akvan, with models pointing toward north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, according to The Times of India.