Cyclone in Orissa

The proximity to the Bay of Bengal has ensured that cyclone in Orissa is a rather frequent in occurrence. Strong winds and gales followed by heavy thundershowers are known to have caused wanton destruction in the coastal state.

Orissa happens to be one of the few Indian states that is subjected to the devastating cyclones and tornadoes. Their periodic occurrence has ensured that they are no longer a bolt from the blue and the local inhabitants of the coastal terrains are armed with adequate preventive measures in order to preclude any catastrophic event. Today cyclones in Orissa are as frequent as the cataclysmic floods caused by the overflowing of rivers or breakage of dams in the monsoon.

The cyclones originate from the voluminous Bay of Bengal and usually traverse across the East Coast from Paradeep to Chandbali and continue with their sojourn towards the north west terrains. More often than not, the storms pass through Kendujhar and also make their presence felt in Sambhalpur District. After these, they gradually start losing their ferocious intensity and the moisture content also begins to drop. The peak season when the cyclone arrive and nearly rip apart the coastal belts includes a short stint during the months spanning between May to July, followed by another spell in between October to November, prior to the arrival of winter. Statistical estimates divulge that majority of the cyclones were an effect of the south west monsoon followed by the post monsoon stretch of the north east monsoon . The pre monsoon spell was also somewhat responsible for the cyclonic windstorms.