Visakhapatnam: Based on the latest data, Cyclone Fani is expected to hit the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali to the south of Puri around Friday afternoon packing 175-185 kmph winds with gusts reaching 205 kmph.
A cyclone alert has been issued for Odisha, West Bengal and north coastal AP. A heavy rainfall warning has also been issued for north AP.
The Centre has released Rs 1,086 crore in advance to the four states that are expected to be affected by the cyclone to pay for state disaster relief efforts.
At 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Fani, categorised as a very severe cyclonic storm lay 760 km south-southwest of Puri and 560 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam.
Light to moderate rainfall may occur at many places across north coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely in the districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram on Thursday and Friday.
Odisha was warned of extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha and adjoining districts of interior Odisha on Friday and over north Odisha on Saturday.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, wind speed may reach 175-185 kilometres per hour gusting 205 kilometres per hour over the Odisha coast and 90-100 kilometres per hour gusting to 115 kilometres per hour over districts of north Andhra Pradesh from Friday evening.
The sea is very likely to be very rough along and off the north Andhra Pradesh coasts from Wednesday to Friday.
