Bay of Bengal system to intensify, cross Odisha-Andhra coast Wednesday

A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal is forecast to intensify into a deep depression and cross the coast of north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha around the morning of September 23, the India Meteorological Department said. The system, which was centered over the east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman Sea on Sunday, is expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen over the next two days. The IMD bulletin states the system will likely become a depression on September 21 and further intensify into a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal on September 22. It is then projected to reach the coast on Wednesday morning. The department has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall, in parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh from September 22 to 25. Officials from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority indicated the system could intensify into a depression on Monday and a severe depression on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, it is expected to move closer to the south Odisha-north Andhra coast.