Cyclone Jawad is likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move along the Odisha coast. (File)
Cyclone Jawad is likely to reach north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha this morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. Puri in Odisha witnessed rainfall and high-speed winds early morning ahead of the cyclone's warning.
The Andhra Pradesh government has evacuated over 54,008 people from three districts till now and set up 197 relief camps in schools and community halls, while the Odisha government has ordered to keep the schools closed in 19 districts of the state.
According to the Met department, Cyclone Jawad lay centred at 5:30 pm of Friday over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 300 km south-SE of Vishakhapatnam, 420 km nearly south of Gopalpur, 480 km south-SW of Puri and 560 km south-southwest of Paradip
"It is likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh - south Odisha coasts by tomorrow, December 4 morning," said the IMD.
"Thereafter it is likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move along the Odisha coast reaching near Puri around December 5 noon. Subsequently, it is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards along coastal Odisha towards the West Bengal coast," said the IMD.
Here are the Highlights on Cyclone Jawad:
Cyclonic Storm Jawad To Weaken Gradually During Next 6 Hours: Weather OfficeThe Cyclonic Storm ''Jawad'' is likely to move nearly northwards and weaken into a Deep Depression during the next six hours and then move north-northeastwards along Odisha coast and reach near Puri around December 5 noon, said the India Meteorological Department on Saturday, reported ANI.
It lay centered at 1430 hrs Indian Standard Time (IST) on Saturday, over the west-central Bay of Bengal near 16.5 degrees North latitude and 84.7 degrees East latitude, about 200 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh), 310 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha, 380 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha) and 470 km south-southwest of Paradip in Odisha.
Cyclone ''Jawad'' Weakens Into Deep Depression: Weather OfficeIn a relief for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, cyclonic storm ''Jawad'' weakened into a deep depression on Saturday and is likely weaken further into a depression by the time it reaches Puri on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department said.
The cyclonic storm weakened into a deep depression and lay centered over west-central Bay of Bengal, about 180 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and 330 km south-southwest of Puri, Odisha at 5:30 pm, the Met office said in a statement.
''Jawad'' Not As Strong As Expected, Seems To Be Weakening: Disaster Force ChiefNational Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Atul Karwal on Saturday said the impact of Cyclonic storm ''Jawad'' is not as strong as it was expected, and it is weakening.
The NDRF Director-General told ANI that "the impact would be less than we had earlier expected and the fact that the Cyclone seems to be weakening and not as strong as it was thought it might be."
The DG said there is rainfall in Coastal areas and light rainfall in other places, but electricity is not disrupted, mobile connectivity is still continued and there are no road blockages as of now.
Mr Karwal was explaining the present situation as the Cyclone has hit coastal areas of north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha since this morning.
Cyclone Jawad Likely To Hit Coastal Regions Of Puri Tomorrow: Weather OfficeIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhubaneshwar director HR Biswas on Friday informed that Cyclone Jawad is expected to hit the coastal region of Puri on Sunday, reported ANI.
While speaking to the media, Mr Biswas said, "The Cyclone Jawad was observed moving northwards in the past 1 hour and will continue the same for the next 12 hours. Weakening trend in the intensity of the cyclone and expected to hit the coastal regions of Puri tomorrow and will weaken gradually."
Mr Biswas further informed that the maximum wind speed is expected to be 75 Km/hr. "Only heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected and no storm warnings in any region. Traffic may be affected due to waterlogging. Evacuations have been done only in the low-lying and vulnerable areas along the coast," he added.
Piyush Goyal Reviews Preparedness For Cyclone JawadUnion minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday reviewed the arrangements and preparations made by state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to deal with cyclone Jawad, reported PTI.
Industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHD Chambers were also represented at the conference.
The minister underscored the need for drawing of a comprehensive action plan towards managing this natural disaster in the most effective way by incorporating the inputs and suggestions of all stakeholders.
Mr Goyal said public private partnership is necessary for disaster management and mitigation and for protecting the lives and livelihoods of those affected.
Rainfall to increase, crops might be damaged: India Meteorological DepartmentDirector General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that Cyclone Jawad can cause damage to crops but it will not be too bad, and rainfall activity will increase today in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
"The damage caused because Jawad will not be as bad as that of a cyclone. A few small trees may fall and people may witness the breaking of branches in the coastal areas. Thatched houses may also be impacted. Largely, it may impact the standing crops. It has been predicted that the three districts of north Andhra Pradesh and coastal districts of Odisha from Ganjam, covering Bhadrak, Balasore will be impacted," the Director General said.
He informed that Cyclone Jawad is moving northwards as predicted.
"As predicted, cyclone Jawad is moving north-northwest and is centred 230 km east of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and 400 km south of Puri, Odisha. Collected cloud mass over north Andhra Pradesh and coastal Odisha districts has led to rain since last evening," he said.
Relief For Odisha, Andhra As Cyclone Jawad Likely To Weaken Into Deep DepressionCyclonic storm 'Jawad' is likely to weaken into a deep depression before it reaches the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Saturday noon, officials said.
The development comes as a relief for the eastern state already battered by two cyclones in the last one year - 'Gulab' and 'Yaas'.
"It is likely to weaken gradually and move northwards during the next 12 hours and then north-northwards along the Odisha coast, reaching close to Puri as a deep depression," the India Meteorological Department said.
Continuous rainfall, high-speed winds ahead of Cyclone Jawad landfall in Andhra's SrikakulamAndhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district is witnessing continuous rainfall and wind speeds over 50 kmph ahead of Cyclone Jawad landfall.
As per the Collector of Srikakulam, "Rainfall is being witnessed across the district since yesterday. These are not heavy pours but it is raining continuously. In some parts of the district, wind speeds are being reported at 50-55 kmph. There are currently 79 cyclone shelters operations since yesterday."
"National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and fire teams are on alert and have been deployed across the entire district," he added.
UGC-NET, IIFT exam postponed in some centres over cyclone JawadThe University Grants Commission - National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and an entrance exam of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) that were scheduled for Sunday has been postponed in some centres of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal due to Cyclone Jawad.
The UGC-NET 2020 and June 2021 has been rescheduled for the centres in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur in Ganjam district and Gunupur in Rayagada district of Odisha, the National Testing Agency said in a notice on Friday.