Bhubaneswar: Odisha is bracing for the impact of a forecasted cyclone, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing red warnings for several districts.

According to the IMD forecast, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations, on October 27.

Similarly, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations on October 28.

The rainfall forecast comes amid the possible intensification of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal into a cyclonic storm, which is likely to move towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts.

Low pressure area likely to intensify into cyclone

According to the IMD bulletin issued on October 23, a low-pressure area formed over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am.

The system is likely to persist over the same region and intensify into a depression on October 24. It is then expected to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a deep depression on October 25.

The IMD has forecasted that the system could intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.

The system is then likely to continue moving west-northwestwards towards the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days.

The system's eventual intensity, movement and impact will depend on its further development over the Bay of Bengal.