Overview
- The INSAT-3DS thermal-infrared image taken Thursday shows a striking east–west contrast with dense clouds over central, eastern and southern India and much clearer skies in the northwest.
- India Meteorological Department analysts say a deep depression centered near north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha is feeding moisture inland from the Bay of Bengal and driving widespread convection.
- IMD has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls across parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and adjoining central and eastern India and has flagged risks to Himalayan foothill districts.
- Satellite features such as very cold, bright cloud tops reveal intense convective cells capable of heavy downpours, but the apparent 4,000-kilometre cloud band and its connectivity across the Himalayas into East Asia are visual estimates that cannot be proven from a single snapshot.
- Forecasters expect the depression to weaken over the next 24 to 48 hours while localized hazards — flash floods, landslides and transport disruption — may persist and the ongoing monsoon withdrawal in the northwest will not stop late-season Bay of Bengal disturbances from producing heavy rain elsewhere.