The depression’s centre was located approximately 500 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 510 km east-southeast of Chennai as of 5:30 am on Saturday.
The depression over the Bay of Bengal has gathered strength, and by Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that it is likely to become Cyclonic Storm “Michaung.”
The depression over the Bay of Bengal was travelling at eighteen kilometres per hour in a west-northwest direction, according to the weather agency. The depression’s centre was located approximately 500 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 510 km east-southeast of Chennai, 630 km southeast of Nellore, and 710 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam as of 5:30 am on Saturday.
“During the next twelve hours, the depression is anticipated to deepen into a depression, and by December 3, it’s likely to develop into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal. After that, by December 4 forenoon, it would proceed northwest and approach the beaches of neighbouring north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh, according to the IMD’s statement.
The IMD added that by Monday, the storm is probably going to shift farther to the west-northwest and arrive in the west central Bay of Bengal off the coasts of south Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring north Tamil Nadu. The depression is expected to travel north, paralleling and along the coast of south Andhra Pradesh. It is predicted to make landfall on December 5 in the forenoon between Nellore and Machilipatnam. The cyclonic storm is predicted to have a top sustained wind speed of 80–90 kmph at that time, with gusts as high as 100 kmph.
“Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during the forenoon of December 5 as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph,” stated the IMD release.
Additionally, a wind warning has been issued by the weather service for the southeast Bay of Bengal. The press statement states that during the next 24 hours, squally weather with wind speeds of 45–55 kmph with gusts up to 65 kmph has been prevalent across the southeast Bay of Bengal and is expected to subside after that.
For More: News
In southern and eastern India, IMD issues a rain warning.
Meanwhile, the weather service has issued warnings for moderate to heavy rainfall across the southern and eastern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha due to the effect of the system.
The weather service has forecast mild to moderate showers on Saturday in Puducherry and North Coastal Tamil Nadu, with isolated heavy rainfall possible. Sunday is expected to bring more intense rain, with rain expected in most locations and heavy to extremely heavy rains in a few.
Ahead of the cyclone “Michaung” warning, the Puducherry government has announced a holiday for all colleges in the UT, Karaikal, and Yanam areas on December 4.
Additionally, Sunday is expected to bring light to moderate rainfall to the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, with isolated areas seeing extremely severe rainfall and other areas seeing rising to heavy to very heavy rainfall. On December 4, the pattern persists, with rain falling in most locations and exceptionally strong downpours in many spots. On December 5, isolated areas of heavy to very heavy rainfall are predicted over the south coastal region of Andhra Pradesh, and isolated areas of heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall over the north coastal region of Andhra Pradesh.
IMD has released yellow and orange alerts for Monday and Tuesday, indicating that Odisha would have mild to moderate rainfall. In the meantime, seven coastal districts—Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam—have been placed on alert by the state special relief commissioner due to the potential cyclonic storm.
Fishermen are warned not to go into the deep sea until further notice due to the extremely rough sea conditions, according to the IMD.