Monday, September 19 2005 09:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The cyclonic storm centred over the north-west Bay of Bengal moved south-westwards and lay close to Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh early this morning, the Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) here said today (Sept 19, 2005).

The system was likely to move in a south-westerly direction and cross the south Orissa-north Andhra Pradesh coast this morning.

The CWC forecast widespread rainfall with heavy to very heavy fall at a few places over Orissa during the next 39 hours.

Besides, storm surges of one meter height was likely to be experienced over and above the normal astronomical tide in south Orissa coast at the time of rainfall, the sources said, adding, the state of the sea would be very rough.

Gale winds with speed reaching 70 to 80 kmph could be experienced along and off South Orissa coast during the next 24 hours.

Danger signal number five, hoisted at Gopalpur port, was replaced by signal number seven while signal number six had been hoisted at Puri and Paradip. Fishermen had been advised against venturing into the sea.

A CWC bulletin issued late last night (Sept 18, 2005) had said that the cyclonic storm was centred close to Gopalpur at 2330 hours, which was likely to cross the south Orissa-north Andhra coast. But the system continued drift in a southwesterly direction.

Heavy rains lashed Bhubaneswar last night but it had stopped subsequently.