Cyclone Montha to make landfall near Kakinada on Oct 28; schools shut for two days

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh government has declared a two-day holiday in all schools, junior and degree colleges in several districts, including Visakhapatnam, as Cyclone Montha is likely to make landfall on the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on October 28.

All educational establishments will remain closed on October 27 and 28.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the morning’s deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during the past 6 hours, and lay centered over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal at 5.30 pm on October 26.

IMD said it was 720 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 780 km southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28.

IMD said it is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Heavy Rainfall Warning :

Scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over Kakinada, Yanam, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Squally winds with speed 45-55 kmph gusting to 65kmph are expected over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema.

On October 27 and 28, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places in Srikakulam, Parvathipuram, Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, East Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya, YSR Kadap, a andNandyal districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema. Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai, and Anantapur districts of Rayalaseema.

Squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along the Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam for the next five days.

Weather warning for fishermen for the Bay of Bengal (other than the Andhra coast):

Squally weather with wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of the Eastcentral Bay of Bengal. Winds will further increase, becoming Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over the southwest and adjoining areas of the southeast and west central Bay of Bengal from October 26 evening.

Thereafter, the wind would further increase, becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal from October 27 evening. It would further increase to 90 to 100 kmph from October 28 morning.

Along and off Odisha coast:

Squally weather with wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off the south Odisha coast from October 26 evening. It is likely to increase to 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph from October 27 evening and becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from October 28 evening to early hours of October 29 along and off the south Odisha coast. It will reach 65 kmph by October 29 evening and decrease gradually thereafter.

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely to prevail from October 28 evening to early hours of October 29 along and off the north Odisha coast. It will reach the speed of 60 kmph by October 29 evening and decrease gradually thereafter.

Warning for Fishermen :

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the Southwest, adjoining the central Bay of Bengal, along and off Tamil Nadu.

Ocean Current alerts from INCOIS:

East Godavari:

Ocean current alerts have been issued for the coast of East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, from Antarvedi to Perumallapuram. Surface current speeds in the range of 0.8 - 1.2 m/sec are forecast on October 28. Harbour and marine operators have been asked to remain careful.

Nellore:

Ocean current alerts have been issued from Coromandel to Vatturupapalam. Surface current speeds in the range of 1.1 - 1.3 m/sec are forecasted on October 26. It is advised that harbour and marine operations remain careful.

Storm surge of height about 1 m above the astronomical tide is likely to cause inundation over low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam (of Puducherry) around the landfall time.