Puri, January 4: In the wake of an approaching tropical cyclone 'Pabuk', the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rains in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and its neighbouring areas from January 5 to January 7. The cyclonic storm is believed to emerge in the Andaman sea on January 5, officials informed on Thursday. Earlier this week, the IMD in its release has said that tropical cyclone ‘PABUK’ is likely to emerge from south China Sea in the to Andaman Sea. The IMD further added saying that the subsequent movement of the cyclone across the Andaman Islands could cause fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls over the Andaman Islands during 5th – 7th January.  Cyclone Phethai Makes Landfall Near Katrenikona in Andhra Pradesh.

The Odisha government has put seven districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Ganjam and Khurda on alert. In its advisory on Thursday, the Revenue and Disaster management department of the Odisha government said that a  cyclonic storm Pabuk lay centered at 0830 hours IST of 03rd January 2019 over the South China Sea near latitude 6.0°N and longitude 105.0° E, about 1500 km east-southeast of Port Blair. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and emerge into Andaman sea around the forenoon of 05th January 2019. Cyclone Gaja to Make Landfall in Tamil Nadu on November 15, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry Brace for Heavy Rainfall. 

According to the weatherman, cyclone Pabuk is gradually approaching and is likely to emerge into the Andaman sea around the forenoon of January 5. The storm is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andaman islands around evening/ night of 06th January. Thereafter, it is very likely to move north-northwestwards and then recurve northeastwards towards Myanmar coast and weaken further during 7th -8th January, 2019.

On Thursday, the tropical cyclonic storm was located above South China sea, almost 1,500 km from Port Blair. Heavy rain is predicted for the next day as the storm will pass across the islands. In the wake of the changing weather conditions, fishermen are advised not to venture into the Andaman Sea from January 4-7 and into adjoining southeast and the east-central Bay of Bengal from January 6-7. Meanwhile, squally wind with a speed ranging between 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph with a gradual increase up to 75 kmph is likely over the Andaman Sea from January 4.

In Thailand, thousands of tourists have fled the Thai resort islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao ahead of Pabuk which is set to bring heavy rains, wind and seven metre (22 foot) waves. According to reports, cyclone Pabuk will be Thailand’s first tropical storm in the area outside of the monsoon season for around 30 years.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2019 09:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).