Bhubaneswar: The cyclone "Bijli" packed with a maximum windpower of 70km per hour is likely to intensify and move north-east towards Bangladesh coast, sources in meteorological office said in Bhubaneswar on Thursday night.
The system which formed over the Bay of Bengal and lay centred at about 200 km south off Paradip was likely to initially move in a north-north-eastern direction, it said.
The system which was formed two days ago turned from low pressure into a depression, then deep depression and finally into a cyclonic storm, Met officials said.
"The system is likely to intensify and initially move in a north-north-western direction and then in a north-eastern direction towards Bangladesh coast," S K Dastidar, Director in-charge of local Met centre, said.
The cyclone warning centre said under its influence, strong wind with 60-70 km/h to 80 km/h speed and rain or thundershowers are likely along and off Orissa coast during the next 48 hours.
The cyclone centre asked fishermen not to venture into the sea and was hoisting local cautionary signal-III at Gopalpur, Puri, Paradip and Chandbali.
Meanwhile, the change in weather provided people the much-needed respite from heat and humid condition by bringing an overcast sky and cool breeze.