Cyclone Dana makes landfall, maintains severe intensity across affected areas

Cyclone Dana started making landfall around midnight on Thursday and continued to move inland until early Friday morning. The storm maintained its strength with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting up to 120 kmph even by 6 a.m. At least 1.1 million people from India's eastern coast moved to storm shelters before the cyclone hit the low-lying regions.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the cyclone was still strong as it moved west-northwest through Odisha and was expected to weaken by Friday afternoon.

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Cyclone’s strength and movement

The cyclone, monitored by Doppler radar in Paradip, Odisha, was about 370 km wide. On Thursday afternoon, it was moving over the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal, with sea surface temperatures reaching 30°C. IMD officials said this warmth helped the cyclone grow stronger before landfall, although its short travel time over the sea prevented it from becoming even more severe.

Experts noted that as the cyclone approached land, dry air from the mainland and the presence of large rivers like Baitarini and Brahmani slowed down its progress. However, conditions such as high sea temperatures and favorable wind patterns continued to support its intensity. The cyclone is expected to weaken gradually as it moves further inland.