Cyclone headed to Andhra Pradesh; IMD issues extremely heavy rain alert for next week

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The IMD said on Saturday that the well-marked low-pressure system over southwest Bay of Bengal had strengthened into a depression

Andhra Pradesh will have to brace for heavy rainfall next week as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that a cyclone likely to form in the Bay of Bengal is approaching its coast.

The IMD said on Saturday that the well-marked low-pressure system over southwest Bay of Bengal had strengthened into a depression. “This system is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards and then intensify into a deep depression by Sunday. Thereafter, it will further intensify into a cyclonic storm located over the southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 27th. It is likely to move northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh coast during subsequent 48 hours,” the IMD said on Saturday.

Once intensified, the storm will be identified as Cyclone Montha, named by Thailand. This will be the second cyclone to develop in October this year, after Cyclone Shakthi that had developed off the Gujarat coast in the Arabian Sea.

Light to moderate intensity rainfall has already commenced over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and is likely to continue through the next five-six days. Along with these regions, Rayalaseema will receive extreme heavy rainfall (over 210mm in 24 hours) on October 27 and 28, the IMD has warned.

As on Friday evening, the system was prevailing as a low-pressure system over southeast Bay of Bengal. “This system will intensify into a depression by Saturday and further strengthen into a deep depression by Sunday. This system will intensify into a cyclone by the morning of September 27,” the IMD said.

Sea conditions along India’s east coast are expected to be rough over the next few days, the IMD said. Winds with speeds ranging between 70-80 km/hr gusting to 90 km/hr will cross westcentral Bay of Bengal till October 29. The fishermen community has been advised not to venture into the sea after October 26, especially along southeast Bay of Bengal.

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