Low‑pressure system expected over North Andaman Sea, heading for Odisha coast

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low‑pressure area is likely to take shape over the North Andaman Sea on the evening of September 19. Meteorologists say the system will gradually pick up strength as it drifts west‑north‑west, eventually reaching the coastal belt of south‑Odisha and north‑Andhra Pradesh within three to four days.

Dr. Manorama Mohanty, the IMD’s director at the Bhubaneswar office, explained that an upper‑air cyclonic circulation is currently perched over northern Thailand, extending up to roughly 9.4 km above sea level. This vortex is expected to spill over the Andaman region, acting as a catalyst for the low‑pressure formation.

“The upper‑air circulation over northern Thailand is moving toward the North Andaman Sea and, under its influence, a low‑pressure area should develop by the evening of the 19th,” Dr. Mohanty told reporters. She added that the system is likely to intensify slowly while moving west‑north‑westward toward the Odisha‑Andhra coast.

In the short term, the IMD forecasts scattered showers accompanied by occasional thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds for the coastal zones of Odisha. Residents are advised to stay alert for sudden squalls, especially during the next 24‑hour period.

The department’s coastal bulletin issued on September 18 echoed these points, noting that the cyclonic circulation had already risen to about 7.6 km above mean sea level over the Andaman Sea. It reaffirmed the expectation of a low‑pressure system forming by the evening of the 19th and tracking toward the Indian east coast.

Odisha is already grappling with monsoon‑related rain, and the incoming system could add a few more wet days to the mix. The IMD says it will continue to monitor the situation closely and will issue updates as the system evolves.