The weather phenomenon recorded over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a deep depression over the next 12 hours and is heading towards west-northwest. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the depression over the Bay of Bengal lies around 220 km from Odisha's Gopalpur and 320 km from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The depression is likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur during Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
“It is very likely to move west-northwestwards & intensify into a deep depression over West-central & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours. Continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh - South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam & Gopalpur as a Deep Depression during the night of 23rd to early hours of 24th September 2026,” it added.
Though the weather department is yet to confirm that the deep depression will intensify into a cyclone - Cyclone Arnab, as named by Bangladesh- the main impact will be on the North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts. This could lead to very heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Telangana. Dense cloud cover is expected along the coast, potentially affecting coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
If it develops into a cyclone, it could make landfall on September 23. Though more accurate information will be available once the depression develops, heavy rainfall may last in several states by September 27.
However, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg rejected the possibility of a cyclone this time. "We have been informed by the IMD that the system could intensify into a deep depression, but not a cyclone," the chief secretary said, adding that the government has put the required personnel ready to handle extremely heavy rainfall.
That said, rainfall had started in different parts of the state and was likely to continue until September 25.
