IMD explained: Bay of Bengal system may turn cyclonic

Published 24 October 2026 at 7:00 am · 10 sources · 200+ searches today

As of 24 October 2026, people are searching “IMD” because the India Meteorological Department has warned that a low-pressure area over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal may strengthen further. It is forecast to become a depression today, a deep depression on 25 October, and a cyclonic storm by the morning of 26 October, with possible rain impacts for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Bengal.

Key facts

23 Oct 2026: IMD detected a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.
24 Oct 2026: system expected to become a depression.
26 Oct 2026: forecast to become a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
North Coastal Andhra Pradesh may see isolated extremely heavy rain on 27–28 Oct.
Coastal Odisha may see isolated extremely heavy rain on 28 Oct.

What happened

As of 24 October 2026, IMD said a low-pressure area had formed over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 23 October. The system is being watched closely because it is expected to intensify over the next few days.

IMD said the system could strengthen into a depression on 24 October, a deep depression on 25 October, and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of 26 October.

Why people in India are searching

Search interest is rising because the system may affect India’s east coast, especially Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with heavy rain and possible cyclone-related weather. The forecast has also led to government caution and preparedness steps.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the storm could reach the vicinity of the coast on the morning of 28 October, but the exact landfall location is still uncertain.

Where the rain is likely

North Coastal Andhra Pradesh is forecast to get heavy to very heavy rain at several places, with isolated extremely heavy rain on 27 and 28 October. That makes the next few days important for coastal districts in the region.

For Odisha, coastal areas could see rain from 26 October, with heavy to very heavy rain on 27 and 29 October, and isolated extremely heavy rain on 28 October. South Bengal may get rain after 26 October, but the IMD details shared so far were mainly for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

What to watch next

The main things to watch are how fast the system strengthens, whether it tracks closer to the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts, and how much rain it brings at landfall or near-landfall.

Odisha has already begun precautionary preparations and issued warnings for vulnerable districts, with officials stressing cyclone-readiness and zero-casualty measures. The situation may change as the system moves west-northwestward over the next two days.

Frequently asked

Why is IMD trending in India today?

As of 24 October 2026, people are searching IMD because it has warned that a Bay of Bengal system may strengthen into a cyclone and bring heavy rain to India’s east coast.

What did IMD say about the Bay of Bengal system?

IMD said a low-pressure area over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal formed on 23 October 2026. It is expected to become a depression on 24 October and a cyclonic storm by 26 October.

Which states may be affected by the storm?

The main areas mentioned are Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, especially the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts. South Bengal may also get rain after 26 October, but the extent is still uncertain.

When could the system reach near the coast?

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said it could reach the vicinity of the coast on the morning of 28 October 2026. The precise landfall location is still not certain.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.