Cyclone Mandous to hit AP coast; rains likely from Dec 9-11

Hyderabad: The deep depression in southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to develop into a cyclonic storm on Wednesday. The cyclone has been named Cyclone Mandous by the United Arab Emirates.

According to the latest details provided by the Indian Meteorological Department at 11:30 am on Wednesday, the depression is approximately 750 km east-southeast of Chennai and 610 km east-southeast of Jaffna (Sri Lanka). The cyclone is expected to reach southwest Bay of Bengal, off the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh by 8 December.

On 8 December, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Karaikal and isolated heavy rainfall over adjoining areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. On 9 December, light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over north interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining Rayalaseema.

On 10 December, it is likely to reduce to light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over north Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema, and south Andhra Pradesh.

Sai Kiran, known as Vizag Weatherman, tweeted, "Cyclone Mandus will form in the Bay of Bengal today evening. The cyclone is likely to move north-westwards towards the north Tamil Nadu coast in the next 48 hours. It is likely to cross the coast near Chennai or Sriharikota by Saturday morning. Heavy to very heavy rain forecast for Nellore, Tirupati & Chennai." He added that due to the impact of the cyclone, moderate to heavy rains are likely to occur in Annamayya, Kadapa, Chittoor, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, Konaseema, light rains are likely to occur in Uttarandhra, Visakhapatnam and Kakinada from December 9 to 11. Winds of 50-60 kmph are likely along the coast."

Meanwhile, T. Balaji, popularly known as Telangana Weatherman, wrote on Twitter, "Cyclone Mandous likely to hit anywhere between Nellore - Chennai - Cuddalore coast during December 8 and 9 as a strong cyclone. This will cause massive rains in South Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu from December 8 to 11." He further added that the cyclone is expected to cause a cold wave in north Telangana from 7 to 10 December and from 10-14 December, seasonal rains are expected in Telangana.

Cold wave

Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures in Telangana continue to drop. Cyclone Mandous is expected to add to the cold wave in the state. On 6 December, the state's lowest minimum temperature of 10.9°Celsius was recorded in Sirpur in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, according to the Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS). In Hyderabad also, the night temperatures are dropping. West Marredpally recorded the city's lowest minimum temperature of 15°Celsius.

IMD Hyderabad said that on 7, 8, and 9 December, dry weather is likely to prevail in the state. On 10 and 11 December, light to moderate rains or thundershowers are expected at isolated places over Telangana.

According to TSDPS, on 7 and 8 December, the minimum temperatures across the state are expected to be low. Thereafter, a slight increase will be observed.