Weather Update : Cyclone Michaung intensifies, heavy rain expected in Andhra, Tamil Nadu

Following the occurrence of cyclone Hamoon, there is now another depression forming over the Bay of Bengal. It is expected to strengthen and develop into a Cyclonic Storm by Sunday.

The coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha are anticipated to experience intense rainfall for the next 48 hours due to the cyclonic activity in the area. On Saturday, heavy rain was observed in various parts of Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts in Tamil Nadu. The IMD has issued warnings of heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of the state. Below are the latest updates on the cyclonic storm Michaung that is forming over the Bay of Bengal.

IMD announced on Saturday that the depression forming over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a deep depression within the next 12 hours and develop into a cyclonic storm by December 3.

According to a statement from the IMD, there is a high probability that the weather system will strengthen into a severe depression within the next 12 hours and eventually develop into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal by December 3. The system is expected to move in a northwest direction and make landfall near the south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by the morning of December 4.

S Balachandran, Deputy-Director General of Meteorology, provided an explanation regarding the path of Cyclone Michaung. According to him, the depression is currently located over the South West Bay of Bengal. Over the next 24 hours, this depression will intensify and transform into a cyclonic storm while steadily progressing in a north-westward direction. By 4 December, it is expected to reach the west central bay of south Andhra and the north Tamil Nadu coast. Subsequently, it will continue to move parallel to the coast in a northward direction.

The cyclonic disturbance in the ocean will also result in winds blowing at a velocity of 45 kmph with gusts reaching up to 65 kmph over the southeastern Bay of Bengal within the next 24 hours. Subsequently, the intensity of the strong wind conditions is expected to diminish.

The coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, such as Tiruvallur, Palaverkadu, Ponneri, Gummidipoondi, Periyapalayam, Sholavaram, and other areas, have been experiencing intense rainfall since Saturday morning. According to the Chennai Meteorological Department, numerous locations received substantial rainfall for over thirty minutes earlier today.

On Saturday morning, moderate rainfall was observed in areas such as Chengalpattu district, including Maduranthakam, Seyyur, Thirukalukundram, Thiruporur, and Kelambakkam. The government has declared a holiday for all colleges in the UT, Karaikal, and Yanam regions on December 4, in response to the adverse weather conditions caused by cyclone Michaung.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to fishermen, advising them against going out to sea due to the harsh sea conditions. As a result of this warning, more than 5,000 fishermen chose not to go fishing, and approximately 1,000 boats were docked at Pulicat Lake in Tiruvallur, according to officials cited by ANI. In its latest bulletin, the IMD has specifically cautioned fishermen to avoid venturing into the southeast Bay of Bengal on 2nd December, the southwest Bay of Bengal, and along and off the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Coasts from 2nd to 4th December. Additionally, fishermen have been instructed to refrain from entering the west-central Bay of Bengal and along and off the Andhra Pradesh Coast from the morning of 2nd December until 5th December, as well as along and off the South Odisha coast from the evening of 4th December until 5th December.