The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday reported that a massive depression in the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify soon. The weather system will continue moving northwestward over the next 12 hours.
Sharing a post on X, the IMD said, “The depression over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards with speed 18 kmph during the past 06 hours and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 22nd September, 2026, over the same region near latitude 17.9°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 200 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha), 200 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 210 km south of Puri (Odisha), and 290 km east of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).”
“It is very likely to move west-northwestwards & intensify into a deep depression over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours," IMD said in the post.
The IMD said that the depression is expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur as a deep depression during the night of September 23 to the early hours of September 24 – i.e., Wednesday and Thursday.
Next Cyclone To Be Named ‘Arnab’
The next cyclone that forms in the North Indian Ocean will be named Arnab, as per the roster which lists names of cyclonic storms. The name Arnab means “ocean” in Bengali. It was given by Bangladesh to the regional tropical cyclone naming list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
What’s the difference between low-pressure system and depressions?
The IMD identifies low-pressure systems based on their intensity, measuring pressure patterns over land and maximum sustained wind speed over the sea. A system is classified as a low-pressure area when it has one closed isobar, while a depression has two and a deep depression has three. A system with four or more closed isobars is classified as a cyclonic storm.
In accordance with the wind speed, a system with maximum sustained three-minute surface winds of 17-27 knots (31-50 kmph) is called a depression, while 28-33 knots (52-61 kmph) is classified as a deep depression. Once maximum sustained winds reach 34 knots (63 kmph) or more, the system is classified as a cyclonic storm. Thus, a low-pressure area does not automatically mean a cyclone; it must intensify and cross the prescribed thresholds to be classified as one.
Schools shut in Odisha
Schools and Anganwadi centres across four Odisha districts have been closed following an IMD forecast predicting a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the state over the next two days. Some areas could receive up to 20 cm of rain, with wind speeds reaching 55 to 65 km/h starting Tuesday evening.
IMD scientists warned that the intense rainfall could elevate river water levels and trigger flooding in low-lying regions, particularly in areas already saturated by continuous rain.