The cyclone would move in a west-northwesterly direction
The depression formed over north Andaman Sea on Tuesday moved west-northwestwards during the past six hours and intensified into a deep depression and lay centered about 1260 kilometres southeast of Gopalpur coast of Odisha, the latest bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
"It would further move west-northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours," the IMD predicted adding that the system would cross Andaman and Nicobar Islands close to Long Island by Wednesday forenoon.
"The system would continue to move west-northwestwards for some more time and then northwestwards towards north Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast during subsequent 96 hours," it said.
Under its influence, the state would experience rain and thundershower at one or two places during the next 24 hours, the weather office said.
The weathermen advised the authorities of the Paradip and Gopalpur ports to hoist Distant Cautionary signal Number One (DC-I).
On Tuesday, the state government had put 16 districts on high alert after the IMD cautioned the administration about a possible cyclonic storm.
"I have just reviewed the cyclonic situation. All preparations have been made like there were for cyclone Phailin and all the concerned departments have made contingency plans to face the situation," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday.