Hyderabad: Cyclone Michaung, now over the Bay of Bengal, is set to hit Andhra Pradesh near Bapatla. Tamil Nadu witnessed havoc, with at least eight fatalities in rain-related incidents in Chennai. The cyclone's intensification raises concerns, prompting high alert and evacuation advisories in the region.
For real-time updates on Cyclone Michaung's impact and developments, stay tuned to Deccan Chronicle
LIVE NEWS UPDATE
05 Dec 2023; 04:00 PM: Cyclone Michaung made landfall along the South Andhra Pradesh coast, near the southern town of Bapatla, between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm on Tuesday. The cyclone was classified as a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching speeds of 90-100 kmph during the landfall.
05 Dec 2023; 02:45 PM: Extremely heavy rainfall to continue in Andhra Pradesh today. By morning, Cyclone Michaung will weaken into a Depression.
05 Dec 2023; 02:30 PM: Cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu: Chief Minister M K Stalin Leads Emergency Meeting with GCC Commissioner, Chief Secretary, and MAWS Minister.
05 Dec 2023; 02:20 PM: Vistara flight U 821 from Mumbai marked the first landing at the Chennai International Airport as services resumed. Subsequently, the first flight to take off was an IndiGo flight (6E 6005) bound for Chandigarh, departing at 11:46 AM.
05 Dec 2023; 02:15 PM: The severe cyclonic storm Michaung is presently making landfall close to Bapatla and is anticipated to complete its landfall within the next two hours. According to an official from the Amaravati Meteorological Centre, the crossing is expected to be concluded by 2 PM.
05 Dec 2023; 02:07 PM: In light of the cyclone impact, the following trains have been cancelled today:
1. Train No. 12608 KSR Bengaluru-MGR Chennai Central Express.
2. Train No. 12609 MGR Chennai Central-Mysore Express.
05 Dec 2023; 02:05 PM: In preparation for the potential impact of Cyclone Michaung, the government has instructed health department officials to ensure an ample stock of necessary medicines. Pregnant women, expecting delivery this week, are advised to be admitted to nearby hospitals. The Health and Family Welfare Commissioner, J. Nivas, has directed district officials to make anti-venom injections for snakebites readily available at all primary healthcare centers across the state.
05 Dec 2023; 02:00 PM: All five major dams in Tirumala, including Papavinasanam, Akasaganga, Gogarbham, Kumaradhara, and Pasupudhara, have reached their maximum capacity due to relentless rainfall. Kalyani Dam in Tirupati has also contributed to the rising water levels. With all dams now at full capacity, the stored water is expected to meet the region's drinking water requirements for the next 214 days.
05 Dec 2023; 01:45 PM: Cyclone Michaung's landfall process expected to persist for 3 hours.
05 Dec 2023; 01:15 PM: Hyderabad, currently under drizzling skies and cloud cover since morning, is anticipated to experience rainfall today owing to the impact of Cyclone Michaung.
05 Dec 2023; 01:10 PM: Cyclone Michaung begins to make landfall near Bapatla.
05 Dec 2023; 01:00 PM: Approximately 9,450 individuals have been successfully evacuated to safety in anticipation of the severe cyclonic storm Michaung, which is poised to make landfall near Bapatla on the south Andhra Pradesh coast.
05 Dec 2023; 12:50 PM: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has requested Rs 5,000 crore in central aid to facilitate relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung.
05 Dec 2023; 12:40 PM: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued an alert for eight districts, including Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada. In Puducherry, Section 144 has been imposed in coastal areas, restricting movement until 6 pm, as a precautionary measure.
05 Dec 2023; 12:30 PM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has instructed officials to consider Cyclone Michaung as a significant challenge, emphasizing the need to prevent loss of life and property. With winds expected to reach speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour.
05 Dec 2023; 12:00 PM: Latest Cyclone Position: the cyclone has been moving at a speed of 12 kmph over the last six hours, currently located near latitude 15.2 degrees north and longitude 80.25 degrees east. The most recent bulletin from the IMD reports the weather system to be situated 40 km northeast of Kavali, 80 km north to northeast of Nellore, 80 km south to southwest of Bapatla, and 140 km south to southwest of Machilipatnam.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 5, 2023
05 Dec 2023; 09:00 AM: The IMD has urged residents to stay vigilant as Cyclone Michaung approaches landfall within the next 4 hours, close to Bapatla in AndhraPradesh. Significant rainfall has been recorded across the region over the past 24 hours.
Cyclone #Michaung landfall in the next 4 hours, close to Bapatla in #AndhraPradesh.
— Deccan Chronicle (@DeccanChronicle) December 5, 2023
Rainfall recorded in AP over the past 24 hours
Bapatla - 22.2 cm
Nellore - 21.8 cm
Machilipatnam - 15.7 cn
Kavali - 14.5 cm
Tirupati AP - 12.6 cm
Ongole - 11.8 cm#CycloneMichaung pic.twitter.com/5oOt5uyjZg
Unusual December Cyclone: Michaung's Unexpected Intensity
Unfavorable ocean conditions in December typically limit the destructive potential of storms in the North Indian Ocean.
High-intensity cyclones like Michaung, with significant wind speeds and heavy rainfall, are uncommon during this season. Initially projected as a 'tropical cyclone,' the IMD upgraded Michaung to a 'severe' storm as it approached the Andhra Pradesh coast, a rare intensification for December.
IMD attributes this anomaly to an above-normal heat index off the southern Andhra Pradesh coast, leading to Michaung's unexpected strengthening.
The Naming of Cyclone Michaung
The choice of the name Michaung stems from Myanmar's proposal, symbolizing resilience and fortitude. Michaung marks the sixth cyclone to emerge in the Indian Ocean in the current year, standing as the fourth to originate in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Meteorological Department had foreseen the formation of Cyclone Michaung in the southwest Bay of Bengal on December 3.
How Cyclones are Named?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and member countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP) jointly established the system for naming cyclones.
Naming conventions vary based on regional rules. "In the Atlantic and the Southern Hemisphere (Indian Ocean and South Pacific), tropical cyclones are named in alphabetical order, with alternating names of women and men.
In the Northern Indian Ocean, a new naming method was adopted in 2000, where names are listed alphabetically by country and are gender-neutral," as explained by the World Meteorological Organization. The World Health Organization generally keeps a track of names.
Update Here
