The depression over the bay is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm
promising heavy rains in North Tamil Nadu coasts, before crossing Nellore and Machilipatnam coast
in Andhra Pradesh on the forenoon of December five as a Cyclonic storm.
The Tamil Nadu government has directed officials in 12 districts about the impending cyclone-induced rains and put in place all precautionary measures, including evacuating people living in low lying areas to relief camps.
As met office has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in North Tamil Nadu coasts, including Chennai and neighbouring districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur and other districts for two days from Sunday, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin reviewed the cyclone preparedness with the Collectors of 12 districts via video-conferencing from the State Secretariat and directed the authorities to put in place all preventive measures.
He also directed them that all basic amenities like food, protected drinking water and medical facilities are made available in all the relief camps, besides ordering the authorities to identify and take extra precautionary measures in areas which witnessed water logging in Chennai city, suburbs and other places due to torrential rains on Thursday evening.
Meanwhile, the Met office said the Depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 9 kmph during the last six hours.
It now lay centered over the same region about 630 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 630 km east-southeast of Chennai, 740 km southeast of Nellore, 810 km southeast of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) and 800 km southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
It is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify into a Deep Depression in the next 12 hours and further into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal around Sunday.
Thereafter, it would move northwestwards and reach near South Andhra Pradesh and adjoining
North Tamilnadu coasts by the forenoon of December four.
Thereafter it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a Cyclonic Storm on the forenoon of December five with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph and gusting to 100 kmph.
The met office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in North coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for two days which would decrease after December four.
Met office on Saturday said under its influence, Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall is very likely and the rainfall intensity would increase from tomorrow with rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall.
Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is likely on December four (Monday) and decrease thereafter.
It said squally winds will prevail over Southwest Bay of Bengal along and off north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts.
Squally wind with speed reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph is prevailing over Southwest
Bay of Bengal. It is likely to gradually increase becoming 50-60 kmph and gusting to 70 kmph.
It would increase further becoming Gale Wind with speed reaching 60-70 kmph and gusting to 80 kmph from tonight and 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph from tomorrow (Sunday) evening for subsequent 24 hours.
The met office said because of the prevailing weather syste, sea condition is very rough along and off North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea for the next three days from today and also advised those who had already ventured into the sea to return to the shores immediately.
Rough to Very Rough sea condition is prevailing over the region. It is likely to become very rough to high from tomorrow morning for subsequent 24 hours and improve thereafter gradually.
