Cyclone Mocha may spare AP

Visakhapatnam: Cyclone Mocha, this year’s first low-pressure system, may spare Andhra Pradesh but is likely to hit Odisha and West Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

IMD officials said the cyclonic circulation is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around May 6, influencing the formation of a low-pressure area over the region around May 7 and then converge into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on May 8.

The name Mocha was recommended by Yemen. It originates from the Yemeni city Mocha (or Mokha).

It is then likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm, moving northwards, towards the central Bay of Bengal. The details of its path and intensification will be known after the formation of the low-pressure area, the IMD said.

The storm could hit the shores of Odisha or Bengal as one of the possibilities, with the likelihood of making landfall on the shores of Bangladesh or Myanmar being the other options, the IMD said.

Most cyclones that formed in May, in the past, made landfall in Bangladesh, an IMD report said.

As of now, the IMD has not issued any warning of rain to Andhra Pradesh.

Dr Sagili Karunasagar, a scientist with IMD Amaravati, said that parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Rayalaseema region in the state witnessed light to moderate rains on Thursday.

Veligandla of Prakasam district recorded 8 cm rainfall, followed by 7 cm rainfall in Peddapuram of Kakinada district, 6 cm in Palasa of Srikakulam, 5 cm rainfall each in Prathipadu, Araku Valley, Mandasa and Tadepalligudem in the state.

Parts of the state will witness thunderstorms for the next three days, he added.