Two anticyclones, mangrove forest save Odisha from Cyclone Dana's fury

Bhubaneswar: Two anticyclones strategically located on either side of the severe Cyclone Dana played a crucial role in weakening its intensity and mitigating its impact on Odisha by sandwiching the storm from either side, India Meteorological Department ( IMD ) scientists said on Friday.

The presence of anticyclones, which are characterised by the movement of air towards land in high-pressure conditions, acted as a counterforce to the cyclonic system. By sandwiching Cyclone Dana from both sides, these anticyclones effectively throttled its strength, preventing it from causing bigger destruction.

The complex interaction of two anticyclones apart, Odisha was shielded from the full fury of Cyclone Dana by the mangrove forest in Bhitarkanika National Park . The severe cyclone made landfall near a tourist camp in Bhitarkanika between 1.30 am and 3.30 am on Friday, with the 209 sq km of mangrove forest in Kendrapada bearing the brunt.

“Had there been no anticyclones, rain before the landfall of the cyclone would have been widespread, affecting many central Odisha districts, while stronger winds would have been felt over a larger area,” IMD scientist Uma Shankar Das told TOI

. “The anticyclones constricted the cyclone. Only the northern Odisha districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj received heavy rainfall, he added.

Weather experts said that due to the influence of an active anticyclone over the Arabian Sea, there was a significant impact of dry airflow from the north-northwest on the left side of the storm.

Similarly, an active anticyclone zone was also present on the eastern side of the storm, reducing its area of influence from the right. Cyclone Dana lay centred between these two anticyclones and moved northward, spreading over a smaller area, they said.

The anticyclones also ensured there was no change in the cyclone’s path, making it more predictable, which helped in taking preventive measures with more certainty.

Bhitarkanika National Park divisional forest officer Sudarshan Yadav was astonished by the minimal damage observed near the landfall point, highlighting the crucial role of mangrove forests in mitigating the impact of cyclones.

Odisha chief minister Mohan Majhi, who faced his first major natural disaster since assuming office in June, attributed the state's effective response to the crisis to teamwork and the blessings of Lord Jagannath. "We managed to achieve our target of zero casualty," he said; his govt had evacuated close to six lakh people, with the CM personally monitoring the situation at the control room in the special relief commissioner’s office late into the night.

Heavy rainfall and wind speeds of up to 110 kmph to 120 kmph were recorded when the cyclone crossed the coast, IMD Bhubaneswar director Manorama Mohanty said. The wind speed fell to 60 kmph to 80 kmph.

“As it grew weaker and turned into a depression, heavy rain is continuing in several northern districts of Odisha. Rainfall activity will reduce by Saturday,” she said.

The maximum storm surge height of one to two metres above the astronomical tide inundated low-lying areas of Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts of Odisha at landfall. Several trees were uprooted, and kuccha houses were damaged by heavy rain and strong winds.

Chandbali, in Bhadrak district, recorded the highest rainfall — 158.6 mm — in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, while seven other places in Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts recorded more than 100 mm of rain in this period. IMD issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts for the next 24 hours following the landfall of Dana.

An 82-year-old woman, identified as Hemalata Nayak, a native of Bankual village in Kendrapada district, died of a suspected heart attack in a cyclone shelter in Rajnagar Block on Thursday night. “The death was not related to the cyclone,” block development officer Nishant Mishra said.