Cyclone Hud Hud may already have intensified a round to become a very severe cyclone, having crossed the 90 km/hr-threshold for wind speeds set by India Met Department.
An indication to this was given by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, which assessed the wind speeds at 102 km/hr gusting to 129 km/hr knots at 8 am this morning.
It projected that ‘Hud Hud’ would accelerate further to being a very severe cyclone during the next 12 hours.
But the landfall projected is at least two days away, which allows the system to feed on the moisture and also get fuelled by the warmer seas of the Bay of Bengal.
The given time and space should usually give the system enough elbow room to strengthen further.
The US Centre feared the storm to rachet up to 212 km/hr, or just below super cyclone status ahead of landfall. India Met is projecting only the half in peak wind speeds.
The US Centre also does not see any cause for weakening of the system, since all meteorological factors are seen aiding its continued development.
HIGH ALERT
The landfall is expected to take place by noon on Sunday between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, according to the projections by India Met Department.
The Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts are on high alert in view of the threat posed by ‘Hud Hud,’ exactly a year after predecessor ‘Phailin’ ravaged the same area.
The cyclonic storm crossed the Andaman the Andaman and Nicobar Islands close to Long Island last evening.
Thereafter, the system has continued to move west-northwestwards and intensify as a severe cyclonic storm.
HEAVY RAIN WARNING
Rainfall ranging from heavy (up to 12.4 cm) to very heavy (up to 24.4 cm) has been forecast at many places over south Odisha coast with isolated extremely heavy falls (greater than 24.5 cm) from Saturday evening.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall may commence over Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Odisha.
HIGH WINDS
Squally wind speed reaching 50- to 60 km/hr gusting to 70 km/hr would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts.
The wind speed would increase to 130- to 140 km/hr gusting to 150 km/hr from Sunday morning, the day of landfall of the very severe cyclone.
Sea condition would be ‘rough to very rough’ from Saturday morning. It would gradually become ‘phenomenal’ (wave heights of up to 46 m) from Sunday morning onwards.
EXPECTED DAMAGE
The Met Department warned that extensive damage is expected to kutcha houses as the very severe cyclone bears down on the coast.
Power and communication lines may get partially disrupted. Minor disruption may happen to rail and road traffic. There is a potential threat from flying debris and flooding of escape routes.
Fishing operations need to be suspended in the area of influence of the system. Judicious regulation of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic is advised.
People in affected areas may remain at safe places around the period of landfall of the very severe cyclone.