Cyclone Fani expected to weaken into 'severe cyclonic storm' over northern Odisha by Friday afternoon: IMD

With the wind speed of over 185 kmph, Cyclone Fani has hit Odisha on Friday morning. From uprooting trees and hoardings to creating disturbances along the eastern coastline, Cyclone Fani is turning out to be one of the biggest cyclones the country has experience in the past two decades.

As the cyclone made a landfall around 8 am in the morning, it is scheduled to weaken into very severe cyclonic storm during the next 3 hours (till 3 pm), as forecast by Indian Meteorological Department. 

Speaking to news agency ANI, Mrityunjay Mohapatra, IMD, Delhi stated that Cyclone Fani has moved away from Andhra Pradesh, the department has issued a de-warning.

Three districts in the state were impacted by heavy rainfall. In the next 3 hours, Cyclone Fani is expected to weaken with a wind speed of 150-160 km per hour, subsequently, it will weaken and move north-northeastwards. By evening, it may weaken into a severe cyclonic storm over the extreme northern part of Odisha," he added.

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As per the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone Fani made landfall along the coast of Odisha around 8 am on Friday. In the wake of the cyclone, over 11.5 lakh residents in low-lying areas of multiple coastal districts of Odisha have been moved to safer places. High alerts have been imposed by the governments of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

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