Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 25: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday announced that a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm—likely to be named Montha—within the next 48 hours.
In anticipation, cyclone warning signal number one has been raised at nine ports across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, as authorities initiate precautionary measures.
According to the IMD, the depression is currently located about 990 km southeast of Chennai and is moving west-northwestward, expected to become a deep depression by Sunday. The system is forecast to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday (October 27), before heading towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, likely making landfall between Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam early next week.
Meanwhile, another depression over the Arabian Sea is also showing signs of intensifying into a cyclonic storm by Sunday, moving north-northwest at around 7 km/h, the IMD said.
An orange alert has been issued for Tiruvallur, Chennai, and Ranipet districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday. Light to moderate showers accompanied by thunder and lightning are expected across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal through October 28, as the northeast monsoon, active since October 16, continues.
Ports at Chennai, Ennore (Kamarajar), Kattupalli, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Puducherry, Karaikal, Thoothukudi, and Pamban have hoisted the first-level warning signal. Officials confirmed that ship movements remain normal but are being closely monitored.
The IMD has warned fishermen against venturing into the sea along the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and central-west coasts due to rough sea conditions expected to persist until Monday.
The Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Authority (TNDMA) has instructed coastal district administrations to remain vigilant, especially in flood-prone zones affected during recent monsoon rains. Emergency teams and relief centres have been placed on high alert as the weather system gathers strength over the Bay of Bengal.