Cyclone Michaung Close to Nellore, Heavy Rains Forecast Along Entire Coast
VISHAKHAPATNAM: The depression in southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the early hours of Sunday, bringing heavy rains to Rayalaseema, south coastal Andhra Pradesh and East and West Godavari districts, apart from isolated rains in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The system – named Michaung – is likely to cross near Nellore on the forenoon of Tuesday, December 5, IMD Amaravati said in its latest media release on Saturday.
According to it, depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has moved west, northwest-wards at a speed of 17 kmph. The centre of depression is around 440 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 420 km east-southeast of Chennai, 540 km southeast of Nellore and 650 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.
Michaung is likely to move west-northwestwards and reach west central Bay of Bengal off the south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by Monday, December 4. The depression is anticipated to move northwards, running parallel and close to the south.
The cyclonic storm is expected to have a maximum sustained wind speed of 80–90 kmph, gusting up to 100 kmph.
Dr. S. Karuna Sagar, scientist at IMD Amaravati, said heavy rainfall is predicted in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on Sunday, escalating to heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations. This pattern will continue on Monday and Tuesday (December 4 and December 5), with rainfall at most places and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas.
Private weather website Skymet said Michaung may not become very severe and may strike the coastline as a tropical storm. It will still be powerful enough to cause deluge with blinding rains. It could uproot some trees and damage transmission poles due to roaring squally winds. People staying next to the coast may be taken to safe shelters, lasting not longer than 48 hours.
Skymet has recommended high alert along the coastline from Nellore, Kavali, Ongole, Bapatla, Machilipatnam, Kakinada and Tuni, commencing the wee hours of Sunday.
The state government has sounded a high alert in the state following the warning. Railways has cancelled 140 trains in the south-central zone. Ports have hoisted cautionary signals.
Government asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea during the next five days. It has asked people to stay indoors.
Control rooms have been opened in all coastal districts.
