Cyclone Phethai likely to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh today; coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry also on alert

Chennai: Cyclone Phethai likely to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department had confirmed on Sunday that coastal areas can expect 'very heavy' rainfall as the cyclone had intensified into a "severe cyclonic storm" over the Bay of Bengal. It is expected to hit between Ongole and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, but the IMD said that because of "unfavourable environmental conditions", the cyclone will "weaken slightly before making landfall".

North Tamil Nadu is likely to experience rainfall in the next two days because the deep depression intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the weekend. Squally winds, with a speed of 45-55 kilometre per hour gusting to 65 kilometres per hour is likely off the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Met department had said.

Cyclonic storm #PHETHAI over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further north-northwestwards. It is located 510 km southeast of Chennai and 670 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 16, 2018

Cyclone Phethai lay about 690 kilometres southeast of of Chennai on Sunday, 890 kilometres south-southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 440 kilometres east-northeast of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. "It is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours (between Saturday and Sunday) and into a severe cyclonic storm in subsequent 24 hours (between Sunday and Monday morning)," the IMD said.

Representational image. AFP

The cyclone is likely to move north-northwestwards further and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday afternoon. In view of Cyclone Phethai, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy showers at a few places is very likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh over the day.

"Extremely heavy falls at isolated places also likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on 17 December." Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy rain over north Tamil Nadu is likely on 16 December, the weather office said.

The wind speed is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed of 80-90 kilometres per hour gusting to 100 kilometres per hour along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from Monday morning.

The sea would be rough to very rough in south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu from Saturday till Monday and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the Bay of Bengal.

With inputs from agencies