Cyclone ‘Michaung’ Gains Strength, May Pack Wind Speed Of 110 Kmph During Landfall Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Michaung over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts intensified into severe cyclonic storm over the same region on Monday.

“The system moved northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centered at 8.30 am today over the same region, about 90 km east-northeast of Chennai, 170 km southeast of Nellore, 200 km northeast of Puducherry, 300 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 320 km south of Machilipatnam,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed.

It is likely to intensify gradually and move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla, during forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Rainfall Warning

North Coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls is very likely on December 4 and isolated heavy rainfall on December 5 and decrease thereafter.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam on December 4-5. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 6.

Rayalaseema: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to extremely heavy falls is very likely on December 4 and isolated heavy rainfall on December 4 and decrease thereafter.

Telangana: Light to moderate rainfall at few places with isolated heavy rainfall is likely on December 4-5 with isolated very heavy rainfall over the same region on December 5.

Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall is likely over south coastal and adjoining south interior Odisha during December 4-6 with isolated very heavy rainfall over the same region on December 5.

Fishermen Warning

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into southwest Bay of Bengal and along & off North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts till December 5; westcentral Bay of Bengal and along & off Andhra Pradesh Coast till December 6 and along & off Odisha coast from December 4 evening till December 6.

Also Read: ‘Michaung’ To Intensify Into Severe Cyclonic Storm Today; Heavy Rain & Squall To Lash Odisha

The weather agency has also warned of squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph along and off Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur) from December 4 evening and it is likely to gradually increase becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from December 5 evening for subsequent 12 hours. It would gradually decrease thereafter. Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph likely over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha on December 5.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar Civic Body Preps For Possible Waterlogging Amid Heavy Rain Forecast