Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are gearing up for cyclone ‘Michaung’, which is likely to hit their coastline by December 4. Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu have received heavy rainfall in the last two days, with the MeT saying the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Friday and is likely to become a cyclonic storm by December 3.
An official at the special relief commissioner’s office in Bhubaneswar said it appears that the system will have no impact on Odisha. A day ago, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) did not indicate its possible impact on the state. So, as of now, there is no warning for Odisha coast or fishermen for the next four days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclonic storm will cross the coast between Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai around December 4 evening. Its name, ‘Michaung’, has been suggested by Myanmar. This is the sixth cyclone in the Indian Ocean and the fourth in the Bay of Bengal this year.
Here is all you need to know:
- The IMD said at 11.30 am, depression over Bay of Bengal lay centered over the southeast and adjacent southwest region about 730 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 740 km east-southeast of Chennai, 860 km southeast of Nellore.
- The system is likely to intensify into a deep depression by December 2 and further into a cyclonic storm over southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3. It will reach south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4.
- Thereafter, it will move nearly northwards almost parallel to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the region on December 5 between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph.
- The weather department has issued a ‘red alert’ for coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on December 4 and 5. It said the region is likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
- An ‘orange alert’ has been issued for Odisha on December 5 with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
- The IMD further issued an ‘orange alert’ for Rayalaseema with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 3. It also issued the same alert in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam for the same day, but forecast extremely heavy rainfall in the region.
