India Meteorological Department has sounded a high alert for heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the next three days as Cyclone Mocha is expected to strike the country’s eastern coast between May 7 and May 9.

IMD stated in its bulletin, “Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected at isolated places over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Thunderstorms coupled with lightning and winds gusting to 30-40 kmph are also expected in Rayalaseema.”

The rains are the result of wind instability in the Bay of Bengal, which has begun to approach Andhra Pradesh.

IMD has also issued a cyclonic storm Mochawarning for 18 districts in Odisha.

The regional meteorological service in Bhubaneswar has issued a yellow notice for as many as nine districts in Odisha, as well as warnings of thunderstorms and lightning. The affected districts include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, and Puri.