Hudhud will not be as devastating as Phailin

NEW DELHI: Severe cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' will not be as intense as 'Phailin' that had hit India's eastern coast exactly a year ago but the country's weather forecaster on Thursday advised states - mainly Odisha and Andhra Pradesh - to remain as alert and prepared as they were in 2013.

Just hours before Hudhud is expected to turn "very severe" from "severe", the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest update said, "The system will continue to move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours."

Predicting wind speed of 145 kmph on Friday morning which will intensify to 155 kmph on Saturday bringing "very heavy" to "extremely heavy" rainfall, it said Hudhud will cross north Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by the afternoon of October 12 (Sunday).

Its wind speed will not be close to what the east coast had witnessed through Phailin which had touched 210 kmph in October last year and became the second-strongest tropical cyclone ever to make landfall in India. The country had witnessed its severest cyclone of all time in Odisha in 1999.

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In any case, the impact of Hudhud cannot be underestimated. Besides expecting "extensive damage" to 'kutcha' houses, IMD did not rule out partial disruption of power and communication lines. It also expects minor disruption of rail and road traffic, potential threat from flying debris and flooding of escape routes.

Issuing heavy rainfall warning for north Andhra Pradesh coast and south Odisha, IMD said, "Under the influence of the system, rainfall at most places with heavy (6.5-12.4 cm) to very heavy fall (12.5-24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall (over 24.5 cm) would occur over east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north coastal AP and south Odisha from the evening of October 11 onwards."

(Fishing vessels docked at Fishing Harbour due to impending cyclone Hudhud in Visakhapatnam.)

"Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over remaining districts of AP and north coastal Odisha during the same period," said the national weather forecaster, whose timely alert and accurate prediction had saved thousands of lives during Phailin last year.

IMD advised suspension of fishing operations in the cyclone's area of influence and sought "judicious regulation" of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic.

It also advised people in affected areas to remain in safe places till October 13 when Hudhud will subside to non-dangerous level.

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