What is cyclone Phailin

Here’s all that you need to know about the tropical cyclone Phailin:

# It is classified as a Severe Cyclonic Storm. The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD),latest bulletin says it originated over east central Bay of Bengal and has now intensified as it moved Northwestwards 800km southeast of Paradip,and 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

# Originated from an area of low pressure over the Andaman Sea,Cyclone Phailin would move close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by evening of 12th October with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph,the IMD said.

# Under the influence of this system,coastal Odisha should expect heavy,very heavy and isolated areas of extremely heavy rainfall starting saturday morning.

# The storm will continue and extend to interior Odisha and coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal from Sunday morning.

# Heavy to very heavy rainfall would also occur at a few places over the north coast of Andhra Pradesh commencing from Saturday,October 12. Very heavy rainfall would occur over coastal areas of West Bengal from Sunday,October 13.

# Cyclone Phailin would intensify with maximum sustained wind speed reaching 175-185 kmph along and off coastal districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha.

# State of Sea along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast will be rough to very rough from Friday morning.

# Extensive damage is expected to kutcha houses and agricultural crops. The cyclone would also lead to partial disruption of power and communication lines.

# Minor disruption of rail and road traffic along with potential threat from flying debris is also expected.

# Flooding caused by storm surge with height of around 1.5-2.0 m would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam,Khurda,Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall.