Cyclone Hudhud has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm. It is currently centred around 15.9°N latitude and 85.7°E longitude, about 350 km east/southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 380 km south/southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.
Punched with a speed of 120-130 kmph at the core and gusting at 150 kmph, Hudhud is travelling in a west/northwest direction. At the moment cyclone Hudhud is demonstrating strength equivalent to CAT II storm and likely to strengthen further.
According to latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Hudhud will make landfall near Visakhapatnam in the hours between morning and noon of October 12. Maximum wind speed at the time of landfall could be 140-155 kmph.
Coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are likely to bear the maximum brunt of the cyclone. Light rain has commenced in the coastal areas and the cloud cover will gradually thicken to bring overcast skies. As reiterated by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, heavy showers will start lashing the states from tonight and pick up as we approach time of landfall.
Up to 500 km on either side of the landfall area, generally become vulnerable to intense weather activity. The districts to be affected by squally winds and heavy showers would be Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari.
The Odisha Government is also on alert to face the threat posed by Hudhud. The districts likely to be affected are Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.
After landfall, the cyclone will weaken and travel deep inland. The rain belt will gradually shift to cover Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh and extend up to east Uttar Pradesh.
Governmental authorities in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert with the cyclone bearing down on the coast, around the same time as cyclone Phailin battered Odisha. Just like last year, we hope that the state’s effective preparations will save countless lives.
