A low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal has strengthened into a well-marked low-pressure area, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects it to become a depression within the next 24 hours. The system could intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of November 16. It has not yet been classified as a cyclone.
Latest IMD update: Well-marked low-pressure area, fishermen advised to return by November 15
Update, November 14, 2026, 1:30 pm IST: The IMD’s All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin says the well-marked low-pressure area persisted over the southeast Bay of Bengal at 8:30 am on November 14, with its associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. It is very likely to intensify into a depression over the same region during the next 24 hours, before moving north-northwestwards and potentially strengthening into a cyclonic storm over the central parts of the south and adjoining west-central Bay around November 16 evening.
The new bulletin also carries marine wind and sea-condition warnings. Most importantly, the IMD has advised fishermen already at sea to return to the coast by November 15. It has advised against venturing into the Andaman Sea and waters along and off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands until November 16, the southeast Bay until November 17, the southwest Bay from November 15 to 18, and the central Bay from November 16 to 19.
The IMD forecasts gale-force winds in parts of the southwest and central Bay from November 17. These are marine-area forecasts; the bulletin does not identify a landfall location or announce a coastal evacuation order. People should follow the latest local instructions and updated IMD bulletins. Read the IMD All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued at 1:30 pm IST on November 14.
The IMD’s Sea Area Bulletin issued at 6:30 am IST on November 14 said the low-pressure area persisted over the southeast Bay at 5:30 pm on November 13. It forecast that the system would move northwestwards, become a well-marked low-pressure area on November 14 and intensify into a depression around the morning of November 15. The bulletin then expects further strengthening over the central Bay around November 16 evening.
The earlier 6:30 am Sea Area Bulletin carried the entry No Storm Warning when it was issued. The later 1:30 pm All India bulletin added marine wind and sea-condition warnings and advised fishermen already at sea to return to the coast by November 15. This is a developing forecast, not confirmation that a cyclone has formed or that a particular coastline will be hit.
What are the latest sea conditions?
In the southeast Bay of Bengal, the IMD listed winds of 20 to 25 knots, gusting up to 30 knots, with widespread rain or thundershowers and isolated heavy rain. The sea was described as moderate to rough and occasionally very rough. Visibility could deteriorate during heavy rain or thundershowers.
Over the southwest Bay, winds were forecast at 15 to 20 knots, gusting up to 25 knots, with fairly widespread rain or thundershowers and isolated heavy rain. The sea was described as slight to moderate, occasionally rough. The bulletin also forecast widespread rain or thundershowers, with isolated heavy rain, over the South and North Andaman Sea.
What do the latest bulletins say about Andhra Pradesh and Odisha?
The coastal bulletin issued by the IMD’s Visakhapatnam centre listed isolated rain along the North and South Andhra coasts. It described the sea as slight to moderate and recorded no port signal and no storm-surge or tidal warning in the bulletin valid through 2:30 pm IST on November 14.
The IMD’s Bhubaneswar coastal bulletin listed fair weather and slight sea conditions along the North and South Odisha coasts for the same validity period. It recorded no port signals and no storm-surge or tidal warning. These are time-limited coastal observations and advisories. They should not be treated as a guarantee that conditions will remain unchanged as the system develops.
The current IMD bulletin does not specify a landfall location. The system is forecast to intensify over the central Bay of Bengal, and its movement and strength will need to be assessed through subsequent updates. This is a separate weather system from Cyclone Murasu, which made landfall in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month. GAWAH’s earlier report on Cyclone Murasu and the Telangana rain alerts is available here.
What should coastal communities and fishermen do?
Fishermen, shipping operators and coastal communities should follow the latest area-specific IMD bulletins, port notices and instructions from district and fisheries authorities. Sea conditions can change as a low-pressure system strengthens. The absence of a storm warning in one bulletin should not be read as permission to ignore later advisories.
Residents should rely on official IMD and state disaster-management updates for information about rainfall, wind and any future coastal warning. Unverified claims about a confirmed cyclone name, landfall point or evacuation order should not be shared as fact.
Frequently asked questions
Has a cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal?
No. The 1:30 pm IST IMD bulletin on November 14 described it as a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal. The department forecast a depression within the next 24 hours and possible cyclonic-storm intensification around November 16 evening.
When could the system become a cyclonic storm?
The IMD forecast a depression around the morning of November 15 and possible intensification into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of November 16.
Has the IMD predicted where the system will make landfall?
The bulletin reviewed for this report does not identify a landfall location. Readers should wait for subsequent official forecasts rather than rely on speculative track maps.
Are storm warnings already in force?
The earlier IMD Sea Area Bulletin issued at 6:30 am IST on November 14 carried the entry “No Storm Warning”. The later 1:30 pm All India Weather Summary added marine wind and sea-condition warnings and advised fishermen at sea to return to the coast by November 15. The bulletin did not specify a landfall location or announce an evacuation order. Warnings can change as the system develops.
Official weather bulletins
IMD Sea Area Bulletin, Kolkata | IMD Coastal Bulletin, Visakhapatnam | IMD Coastal Bulletin, Bhubaneswar | India Meteorological Department.
Image credit: Representative stormy-sea photograph by Ant Rozetsky via Unsplash. The image is illustrative and is not a satellite image of the current Bay of Bengal system.
