Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chennai: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low pressure area over the south-east Bay of Bengal turned into a depression on Saturday and is likely to turn into a cyclonic storm named ‘Montha’ by Monday (October 27).
In its latest bulletin, the IMD said the system, currently centered about 990 km east-southeast of Chennai, is moving west-northwest and is likely to intensify into a deep depression by Sunday (October 26).
After this, a cyclonic storm is expected to form over the south-west and adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning. Once formed, Cyclone Montha is forecast to move northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, causing possible landfall between Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam early next week.
IMD has warned of heavy rain, strong winds and storm conditions along the Andhra coast during the period of landfall. As a precautionary measure, storm warning cage number 1 has been hoisted at nine ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, indicating that stormy weather may affect coastal waters.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea and coastal residents have been urged to remain alert as the system intensifies.
Although the primary impact area is located in the north along the Andhra coast, light to moderate rainfall is expected over many areas of Tamil Nadu.
The Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), Chennai has predicted isolated light rain over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts over the weekend.
Meanwhile, as the Northeast Monsoon gains momentum, moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely over Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi districts today (October 25).
Light rain is also expected over KTCC region (Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai and Chengalpattu) during the same period.
In the last 24 hours, scattered rainfall was recorded across Tamil Nadu, with Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts receiving the heaviest rainfall.
Weather officials have cautioned that due to the cyclonic system developing over the Bay of Bengal, the intensity of rain may gradually increase in the coastal and surrounding districts.
–IANS