The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert for Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh as a low-pressure area near the southeast and adjoining areas of the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression. According to the Director of Visakhapatnam
Cyclone Warning Centre, MD Sunanda, this depression is expected to intensify into a deep depression and eventually transform into a cyclonic storm, which is named Michaung, within the next 48 hours, ANI reported.
“The low-pressure area has now, after observation, intensified into a depression near the southeast and adjoining areas. So, in the next 24 hours, it will further intensify into a deep depression. Then, in the next 24 hours, it will intensify into a cyclonic storm. While intensifying, it is moving towards north-west and will reach near the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coast,” Sunanda told the news agency.
From December 3 onwards, the IMD predicts an increase in wind speed and rainfall along the northern Tamil Nadu and coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh.
Sunanda explained, “While it is moving, the rainfall will start. So, light to moderate rainfall with heavy to very heavy isolated extremely heavy rainfall chances are there over south coastal Andhra Pradesh.”
Earlier predictions from the IMD suggested that the cyclone is likely to move west-north-westward, intensify into a deep depression by December 2, and further develop into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3.
The
cyclone is expected to reach the south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon and then move nearly northwards, crossing South Andhra Pradesh during the forenoon of December 5.
An 'Orange' alert for moderate to heavy rainfall has been issued by the weather agency for parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Police issued a warning, anticipating the cyclone to make landfall along the north Tamil Nadu coast, between Nellore and Machilipatnam, with winds reaching speeds of 100 kmph on Monday, December 4.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has instructed officials to take precautionary measures, including shifting people from areas likely to be impacted by the cyclone. During this period, fishermen are cautioned against venturing into the sea.
Rainfall alert and precautionary measures
The IMD has issued a series of warnings and alerts for various regions. In the North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry regions, light to moderate rainfall is expected on December 2, with the intensity increasing from December 3. The Coastal Andhra Pradesh region is also expected to experience light to moderate rainfall, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on December 3-4.
The IMD cautions against potential dangers to thatched huts, the vulnerability of structures, the possibility of tree branches breaking, and the uprooting of small and medium-sized trees. Minor damages to power and communication lines are expected, along with major damage to kutcha structures and minor damage to pucca roads due to heavy rain, the weather agency warned. The IMD also anticipates damage to paddy crops, horticultural crops, and orchards.
Due to Cyclone Michaung’s anticipated landfall in the coastal region of North Tamil Nadu on December 4, all schools in Puducherry, Karaikal, and Yanam will remain closed, reported News18.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
