BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Friday alerted district collectors in coastal and southern parts of the state after the IMD forecast that a cyclonic storm could develop over the Bay of Bengal by the evening of November 16.Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the IMD had not yet shared any assessment of the possible impact of the weather system on Odisha. However, the state government had begun precautionary preparations and asked district collectors to remain alert.“Though the IMD has not made any prediction, we have already taken precautionary measures and informed the district collectors of northern, southern and coastal regions to remain prepared and vigilant about the system brewing in the sea,” Pujari said.Sources said the minister would hold a review meeting with senior officials to discuss the developing situation and assess the possible impact of the cyclone.In a special message to the chief secretary, the IMD said a low-pressure area had formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It was centred over the central Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday morning.The weather system is likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area by November 14. It is then expected to develop into a depression over the same region around the morning of November 15.“Thereafter, it is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around November 16 evening,” the IMD said.Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts on November 18 and 19 in its midday bulletin.Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are also likely in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during this period.For November 19 and 20, the weather office has forecast heavy rainfall in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam and Puri districts and issued a yellow alert for these areas.Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds are also expected in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during this period.The IMD has also warned of squally weather along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17, with wind speeds of 45-55 kmph and gusts reaching 65 kmph. The sea is likely to remain rough to very rough.Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off the south Odisha coast on November 17, the weather office said.