The low pressure area over the North Bay of Bengal, coastal parts of Odisha and West Bengal has moved westward over parts of interior Odisha and Chhattisgarh. It has strengthened to a well marked low pressure and is likely to intensify further into a depression over land. This will be the first depression of the season 2020 and will have the distinction of forming over land. The weather system will track westward to move across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The low pressure has already lashed states of West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh with heavy to very heavy rains over some parts: Koraput 128mm, Chandbali 89mm, Titlagarh 88mm, Bolangir 87mm, Contai 160mm, and Jagdalpur 118mm to name a few.
The further advance of the system is likely to cause very heavy rains over Madhya Pradesh between 20th-22nd August, Rajasthan 21st-23rd August, and finally Gujarat 22nd-23rd August. The heavy rainy spell includes the risk of flooding over a few parts of these states during this period. The incessant rains will be accompanied with lightning, thunderstorm, and gale-force winds over many places.
The inclement weather may cause disruption in communication, connectivity, commuting and rail, road, and air traffic on the specified days. Waterlogging and heavy inundation of low lying areas is a possible threat to some of the locations. The rivers, dams, and reservoirs could overflow due to excess of inflow of rainwater in the catchment areas.
This system will start vacating extreme western parts of Gujarat from 24th August onward. In the meantime, there is a likelihood of another system forming in the Bay of Bengal. A cyclonic circulation will form on the 22nd August over the North Bay of Bengal which may turn in to a low-pressure area in the subsequent 24 hours. Unlike its predecessor, this system will head for West Bengal, Bihar, and Indo Gangetic plains.
