Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic Storm 'FANI' is likely to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali around May 3 afternoon with maximum sustained wind of speed 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph, the India Meteorological Department said today.

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'FANI' over Bay of Bengal lay centred about 800 km south of Puri at 11.30 am today. It is very likely to intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around May 3 afternoon, a bulletin of the IMD issued at 3.20 PM said.

Under its impact, squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off Odisha coast from May 2 and very likely to become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from May 3 morning, and become 175-185 kmph gusting 205 kmph over Odisha coast by May 3 evening, the bulletin added.

Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely to occur over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts on May 2.

It is likely to increase with rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over the districts of coastal Odisha and adjoining Kandhamal, Rayagada, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Deogarh districts on May 3 and over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal on May 4.