Cyclone 'Nada' is brewing over South-West and adjoining South-East Bay of Bengal with its deep depression intensifying rapidly, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. The cyclone is predicted to cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Vedaranniyam and Puducherry, close to Cuddalore by early Thursday morning.
Squally winds of 45- to 55 km/hr gusting to 65 km/hr are likely to prevail along the southern coasts with rough sea conditions, in the next few days . Heavy rain is likely over isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Coastal and interior Tamil Nadu, and Kerala on Friday and Saturday.
According to the weather experts, the cyclone will continue to move in a west-northwest direction towards the Tamil Nadu coast. Although 'Nada' will stay over waters almost two days and two nights, it is not expected to intensify further.
Nada is expected to peak with a strength of 75 km/hr to 85 km/hr gusting to 95 km/hr tomorrow and could in fact wind down somewhat in strength before crossing coast, said the IMD.
It has been estimated that the developing storm might have a landfall to the south of Puducherry, probably as a minimal cyclone by night of Thursday. Wind speeds might range between 62 km/hr and 116 km/hr. The IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into seas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, and has asked those already out in the seas to return back at the earliest.
With strong gusts of wind and rough seas, heavy rain is likely over isolated places over the coastal states, during the next 2-3 days. As per country's private forecaster, Skymet, while Nada will bring light to moderate rains over parts of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours, interiors of Tamil Nadu and Kerala may also witness scattered rains. Chennai in particular is expected to get rains from early Thursday morning and intensify gradually, said the sources, adding bouts of heavy to very heavy rain are likely in the city during the next 24 hours.