Severe cyclonic storm Ornab to landfall in India as Sri Lanka sees indirect effects

The very severe cyclonic storm Ornab over the west-central Bay of Bengal is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast in India on Wednesday, the Department of Meteorology said.

At 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday, the system was centred near 15.9 degrees north latitude and 85.4 degrees east longitude, about 890 kilometres north-east of Kankesanthurai.

The storm is expected to move west-northwestwards until around 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday before turning northwest and crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast by about 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Although Sri Lanka is not expected to experience a direct impact, winds being drawn towards the system will continue to affect the island, particularly the south-western regions.

Showers or thundershowers are expected at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-Western provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. Some areas could receive more than 75 mm of rain.

Strong winds of 40 to 50 km/h are also expected over the western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces and the Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

In the affected sea areas, wind speeds could reach 80 to 140 km/h, while waves may rise to between three and four metres.

Fishermen and naval vessels have been advised to avoid the affected waters until further notice and those already at sea have been urged to move to safer areas.