
Weather forecast today, Cyclone Fani LIVE Updates: The severe Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ (pronounced as ‘Foni’) in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a “very severe cyclonic storm” in the last six hours, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department. It is very likely to intensify into an “Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm” during the next 36 hours and move towards the Odisha coast, as predicted by the MeT.
The cyclone is likely to hit Odisha coast between Puri and Kendrapada by Friday though the exact location of landfall has not been specified. The IMD in its bulletin said that cyclone Fani lay over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, about 830 km nearly south of Puri, 670 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and about 680 km northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), according to a report by PTI.
Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is very likely to prevail along and off north Tamilnadu and Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts for subsequent 24 hours and 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph to prevail along and off Kerala coast, IMD stated. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into these areas with rough sea conditions.
Meanwhile, rain and thundershowers were observed at few places over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya and severe heat wave conditions were recorded on Monday in isolated pockets over West Madhya Pradesh. Maximum temperatures Monday was recorded as 47.4 degrees Celsius at Khargone in Madhya Pradesh.
Cyclone Fani: West Bengal govt takes precautionary measures
With the IMD issuing a formal alert that Cyclone Fani is likely to hit the coastal areas of West Bengal, the state government has taken all precautionary measures to avert any untoward incident, officials said Tuesday. The state disaster management department in a message issued a warning to the fishermen asking them not to venture into the deep sea and urged those already there to return to the coast by Wednesday evening. (PTI)
Odisha to be most affected by Cyclone Fani: Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi
Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi in a press statement Tuesday addressed journalists in an effort to counter panic in the state. “Fani is not a super cyclone. It is an extremely severe cyclonic storm,” he said. According to information put out by National Disaster Management Authority, wind speeds can range from 175-185 kmph and gusting up to 205 kmph.
Around 3:30 pm, the Indian Met Department also tweeted that Fani, currently 800 kms south of Puri, is “very likely to intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours”. Read more here
Cyclone Fani: National Crisis Management Committee meet to take stock of situation
The IMD informed that the severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' lay centred this afternoon at about 800 kms south of Puri. Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha, East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata districts of West Bengal, and Srikakulam and Vijayanagram districts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to be affected according to present indications, the statement said.
Chief secretaries and principal secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal participated in the NCMC Meeting through video conference. Senior officers from the ministries of home, shipping, fisheries, power, telecommunications, defence, IMD and NDRF also attended the meeting.
The NCMC will meet again Wednesday to take stock of the emerging situation
Cyclone Fani: Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy deploy ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations
Indian Coast Guard and Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in Andhra, Odisha & West Bengal have been put on standby. NDRF is deploying 41 teams for prepositioning. States have issued advisories to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea.
Cyclone Fani: Odisha CM to urge CEC to postpone polling in Patkura assembly segment
With the IMD forecasting very severe cyclonic storm Fani likely hit the Odisha coast on the night of May 3, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday said he would urge the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to postpone polling in Patkura assembly segment. "I am going to see the Chief Election Commissioner about postponing the election in the Patkura assembly seat in case the cyclone hits Odisha," Patnaik told reporters. Following the death of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwal on April 20, EC had postponed polling in Patkura segment till May 19. (PTI)
Heat wave conditions likely over parts of Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh
Heatwave conditions are very likely in many parts with severe heat wave over Vidarbha and heat wave to severe heat wave in some parts over West Madhya Pradesh. Heatwave conditions has been forecast in isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Marathwada and Telangana.
Rain and thundershowers forecast for Telengana and Andhra in next 2-3 hours
Rain and thundershowers accompanied with gusty wind will likely occur over Anantapur, Chittoor, Sri Potti, Sriramulu Nellore, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy, Vikarabad and Wanaparthy districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during next 2-3 hours, according to Skymet Weather.
Jharkhand likely to experience duststorm, thundershowers at isolated places in next 4-5 hours
Jharkhand is likely to experience duststorm and thundershowers with moderate lightning at isolated places in Banka, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Dumka, Giridih, Godda, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Jamtara, Khunti, Singhbhum, Ramgarh, Ranchi and Simdega districts in the next 4-5 hours, Skymet Weather reported.
Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra will receive financial aid
The Centre Tuesday ordered release of Rs 1,086 crore to four states as advance financial assistance for undertaking preventive and relief measures to deal with cyclone 'Fani', which is approaching the Indian coast. Following a decision of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered for advance release of financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) of four states , an official statement said. Of the sanctioned amount, Odisha will receive Rs 340.87 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs 309.37 crore, West Bengal Rs 235.50 crore and Andhra Pradesh will get Rs 200.25 crore.
Cyclone Fani latest update posted by Indian Navy
Watch | Cyclone 'Fani' intensifies
Thunderstorm, dust storm predicted by MeT
Thunderstorm and dust storm has been predicted in Delhi by the MeT department. The maximum temperature is expected to be 42 degrees Celcius and it will be partly cloudy, IMD stated. The minimum temperature was recorded as 23 degrees Celcius and humidity was 23 per cent.
MHA issues advance financial assistance, 4 states on high alert
The Home Ministry (MHA) on Tuesday issued an advance financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to four states for preventive and relief measures, IANS quoted the ministry as saying. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will get the aid from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) based on the decision of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). The four coastal states have been put on high alert. Of the total Rs 1,086 crore, Andhra Pradesh gets Rs 200.25 crore, Odisha gets Rs 340.875 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs 309.375 crore and West Bengal Rs 235.50 crore.
(With IANS inputs)
Jharkhand RRC on 'hot standby', all teams at Mundali on ready standby: NDMA
Jharkhand RRC has been alerted on "hot standby" and all teams at Mundali on ready standby, reported NDMA. A possible landfall in Bhadrak/Balasore region of Odisha is anticipated and the NDRF team has been prepositioned at Balasore strengthened with manpower and equipment especially tree cutters.
All district collectors in Odisha on alert, cyclone centres kept ready: Odisha Special Relief Commissioner
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi stated that the cyclone is likely to hit Odisha coast in Puri district on May 3 and all districts collectors have been alerted thereof. "All cyclone centres are being kept ready. For search & rescue operation, we have alerted 20 units of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force and 12 units of NDRF are ready," Sethi said.
Heavy rain likely to occur over Northeast
Heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, South Interior Karnataka and Kerala, NDMA stated. While heatwave conditions are very likely to occur at many places over Vidarbha; at isolated pockets over north Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal.
Very heavy rainfall predicted over coastal Odisha and AP on May 3 & 4
Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been predicted at few places over coastal Odisha & adjoining districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 3 and 4, IMD stated. Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on May 3 and 4.
Here's how its expected cyclone 'Fani' will move over in coming days before landfall
High degree of rediness assumed for humanitarian assistance: Indian Navy
"As Cyclone 'Fani' intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm, Eastern Naval CD assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance," ANI quoted the Indian Navy.
"These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief materials in quantities sufficient. Naval aircraft are also standing by at Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu & INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded if required."
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