Bhubaneswar, November 8: Odisha and West Bengal will have to brace for heavy rains over the next few days as Cyclone ‘Bulbul’ has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Friday. According to a weather bulletin by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several places over Odisha are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday. Moreover, West Bengal is also likely to receive torrential rains on November 9. The sea condition is likely to be very high over central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and rough to very rough along and off Odisha and West Bengal coasts. Cyclone Bulbul Intensifies Into Severe Cyclonic Storm, To Cross West Bengal & Bangladesh Coast on November 10.

On Friday, the IMD said that Cyclonic Storm Bulbul intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm at 0530 hours on Friday and lay centred about 530 km S-SW of Sagar Islands in West Bengal. It is expected to cross West Bengal & Bangladesh coast across Sundarbans Delta during early hours of November 10. Meanwhile, the Pampan port authorities in Tamil Nadu have hoisted cyclone warning as the fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea for fishing till further orders. Cyclone Bulbul Heads Towards Odisha and West Bengal, Likely to Intensify Into Severe Cyclonic Storm Over Next 24 Hours.

Here's the Tweet:

"Under the influence of Cyclone Bulbul, light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over north coastal districts of Odisha on November 8 and November 9, 2019 and light to moderate rainfall at most places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on November 9, 2019," the IMD stated.

In the wake of the current weather conditions, fishing operations have been totally suspended over Odisha-West Bengal coasts. The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha-West Bengal coasts for the next few days.

Giving details about the impact of Cyclone Maha, the IMD said it has begun to weaken and that some places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat are likely to receive rainfall in the next 24 hours due to its influence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2019 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).