Environment & Climate23 Oct 2026 · about 6 min

Low pressure over Bay of Bengal likely to turn into cyclonic storm by October end

The brief

A low-pressure area is a region where atmospheric pressure is lower than surrounding areas. Air tends to move toward it, helping clouds and rain gather. It is an early stage of weather-system development, not necessarily a dangerous storm. A cyclonic storm is a stronger, organized system with much faster winds and greater coastal risks. In this case, the IMD reported a low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal on October 23. It forecast the system to become a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25, and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by October 26 morning. The distinction matters because strengthening can change the threat quickly. The system may later move toward the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts. Squally weather, rainfall, and winds reaching 60 kmph along the coasts were forecast, while fishermen were told to return by October 24 morning.

What is a low-pressure area, and how is it different from a cyclonic storm?

In this case, the IMD reported a low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal on October 23. It forecast the system to become a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25, and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by October 26 morning.

The distinction matters because strengthening can change the threat quickly. The system may later move toward the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts. Squally weather, rainfall, and winds reaching 60 kmph along the coasts were forecast, while fishermen were told to return by October 24 morning.

How is this system expected to develop between October 23 and October 26?

The IMD expects the weather system to strengthen in a sequence of stages between October 23 and October 26. This matters because each stage signals a more organized and potentially hazardous system. The forecast gives authorities and coastal residents time to prepare before the system approaches land.

On October 23, the low-pressure area was expected to remain over the same region. The IMD forecast a depression on October 24, followed by west-northwestward movement. It then expected a deep depression on October 25 and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning.

The system may intensify further during the next two days and move toward the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts. The forecast prompted Odisha to begin precautionary preparations. Fishermen at sea were advised to return to the coast by October 24 morning.

How large an area could be affected, and how strong could the winds become?

The forecast covers a broad area because weather effects can extend well beyond the system’s center. The IMD identified the Andaman Islands, coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Gangetic West Bengal as places that may experience unsettled weather and rain.

From October 23 to October 25, those areas could see squally weather with light to moderate rainfall. Along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts, winds were forecast to gust up to 60 kmph on October 27. The IMD said those winds would intensify gradually thereafter as the system strengthened.

The forecast does not give a precise storm-size measurement or a complete wind field. It does identify the main affected regions and the strongest stated wind figure. The system may also move toward the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts, making coastal preparations important.

Which coasts and regions is the system expected to approach, and when could they experience heavy rain or squally weather?

The forecast places the likely coastal approach near north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha. This matters because a strengthening system can bring rain and strong winds to coastal districts before and during its approach. The article identifies several regions that may experience effects, but it does not specify landfall.

From October 23 to October 25, the Andaman Islands, coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Gangetic West Bengal may receive light to moderate rain with squally weather. The system is expected to move west-northwestward and intensify through October 26.

After October 26, it may move toward the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts. Coastal Andhra is expected to receive heavy rain from October 27, according to the headline and forecast. Winds along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts could gust up to 60 kmph on October 27 and intensify afterward.

What could happen to coastal communities, fishermen, rainfall, and winds as the system intensifies?

As the system strengthens, coastal communities may face worsening weather rather than a single isolated shower event. The forecast includes rainfall, squally conditions, and stronger winds across several coastal and nearby regions. These conditions can disrupt travel, fishing, and daily activities, although the article does not detail specific damage.

The IMD forecast light to moderate rain and squally weather in the Andaman Islands, coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Gangetic West Bengal from October 23 to 25. It also forecast winds gusting up to 60 kmph along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 27, strengthening gradually afterward.

Fishermen who had entered the sea were advised to return to the coast by October 24 morning. Odisha began preparations for the approaching system. Coastal Andhra was expected to receive heavy rain from October 27, while the system could move toward north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha.

What are the India Meteorological Department and the Odisha government doing in response to the forecast?

The India Meteorological Department is monitoring the low-pressure area and forecasting its likely path and strength. It informed the Odisha government about the system’s formation and issued guidance about rainfall, squally weather, winds, and the expected coastal approach. Such warnings help authorities and communities act before conditions deteriorate.

The IMD forecast the system’s progression from a low-pressure area to a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25, and a cyclonic storm by October 26 morning. It advised fishermen at sea to return to the coast by October 24 morning. It also forecast winds of up to 60 kmph along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 27.

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government had started preparations. The government is responding ahead of the system’s possible movement toward north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, while the IMD continues providing forecasts.

Why can a low-pressure system over the warm Bay of Bengal strengthen into a cyclone?

A low-pressure system over a warm tropical sea can strengthen when warm water supplies heat and moisture to rising air. As air rises, pressure near the surface can fall further, drawing in more air. Earth’s rotation helps the circulation organize, while low wind shear allows the storm’s structure to remain intact. These are established meteorological mechanisms, not details provided in the article.

The article describes the Bay of Bengal system as a low-pressure area on October 23. The IMD expected it to become a depression on October 24, a deep depression on October 25, and a cyclonic storm by October 26 morning. It also forecast further intensification afterward.

The system’s expected movement toward north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha explains the concern for coastal communities. The article gives no sea-temperature or wind-shear measurements, so it cannot confirm which specific physical factor will dominate. It does confirm that the IMD expects strengthening and increasing coastal impacts.

This brief was written by AI from the original reporting and checked by other models. Names, figures and quotes come from the source; read it for full context.