IMD issues Orange Alert for Cyclone Sitrang; likely to intensify into ‘severe cyclonic storm’

Our Reporter

Dimapur, Oct. 24 (EMN): After the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) issued a warning of the influence of cyclone Sitrang over Nagaland and other parts of the Northeast region from October 24 to 26th, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday (October 24) issued a warning of cyclonic storm over East central, adjoining areas of West central and Northwest Bay of Bengal and an Orange Alert for West Bengal coast.

An Orange Alert is issued when there is a possibility of severe weather due to cyclones, which can cause damage to the road and air transport as well as loss of life and property.

“It is very likely to continue to move north-northeast wards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours”, it warned.

Four-day rainfall in Nagaland

On October 25, Dimapur is likely to experience fairly widespread rainfall; widespread rainfall over Peren, Kohima, Phek, Kiphire, Tuensang and Mon; and scattered rainfall over Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha and Zunheboto.

Dimapur will continue to experience fairly widespread rainfall along with Wokha, Zunheboto, Mokokchung and Longleng on October 26, while Peren, Kohima, Phek,  Kiphire, Tuensang and Mon is likely to experience widespread rainfall.

On October 27, Dimapur and Zunheboto is likely to experience isolated rainfall, while scattered rainfall is likely over Kohima, Peren, Phek, Kiphire, Tuensang, Mon, Wokha, Mokokchung and Longleng.

Wokha, Kohima, Tuensang and Mon are expected to receive isolated rainfall on October 28, while Peren, Phek, Kiphire, Mokokchung, Longleng, Dimapur and Zunheboto will remain dry.  

Rainfall and wind speed warning in Northeast

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely over north Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, while heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely over south Assam, east Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura on October 24.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over the same region on October 25 and isolated heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, northeast Assam and Nagaland on October 26.

Squally wind reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely over Tripura and 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely over Mizoram, south Assam and adjoining east Meghalaya and Manipur.

As per the report, damage is expected over Tripura, Mizoram, east Meghalaya, Manipur and South Assam. Damage to standing crops including agricultural and horticultural crops due to heavy rain and squally winds; breaking of tree branches and uprooting of small tress like drumsticks, banana and papaya trees; inundation/localised flooding in low lying areas due to heavy rains; localised landslides/mudslides/mud slips/mud sink possibility due to heavy rain; traffic may be disrupted due to poor visibility in association with heavy rain and vulnerable structures like hoardings, tents and display boards may be damaged.

The department has advised the people of Tripura, Mizoram, east Meghalaya, Manipur and South Assam to be cautious while going outside, regulate traffic and stay away from vulnerable structures.