Cyclonic storm likely to hit North Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, says IMD

A low-pressure area formed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 a.m. on Friday is expected to become a depression on Saturday, a deep depression on Sunday and a cyclonic storm by Monday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It may then move towards the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts.

K. Naga Ratna, Head of the Amaravati Meteorological Centre, Andhra Pradesh, said the weather system was likely to cross the coast in the early hours of October 28 and move away towards Odisha the next day.

“It would be at least a severe cyclonic storm,” she said. Some models indicate a very severe cyclonic storm, with wind reaching a speed of up to 145 kmph, she added, and a storm surge of 1 to 2 metres is expected. The IMD’s sea warning for October 27 is higher, at 120 to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, off the north Andhra coast.

The landfall point remains uncertain. “The system could cross anywhere between West Godavari and Srikakulam districts, with some models pointing to Visakhapatnam and others to Kakinada and Konaseema,” she said.

The IMD has issued a red warning for extremely heavy rain at isolated places in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts on October 27. On October 28, red warnings cover Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Konaseema and West Godavari, while Visakhapatnam is under an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain.

Srikakulam, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram, Eluru and Krishna are under orange alerts on both days. A yellow watch for heavy rain covers Srikakulam, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts on October 29.

In the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Friday, Amalapuram in Konaseema district received 94 mm of rain and Nellore 73 mm, both in the IMD’s heavy rainfall category. Vijayawada and Guntur received rain in the evening, with heavy falls in areas around Vijayawada.

Heavy rain is possible at isolated places in Nellore and Tirupati districts until Saturday morning. On Saturday, the IMD forecasts light to moderate rain at one or two places in coastal Andhra Pradesh and a few places in Rayalaseema.

Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) lists Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam and the Rayalaseema districts for rain.

On Friday, Tuni recorded 36° Celsius, the maximum temperature in the State, while Nellore recorded the lowest at 27.3°C.

Fishermen at sea have been asked to return to the coast by Saturday morning, and not to venture along and off the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts on October 27 and 28. The APSDMA has urged the public and farmers to take precautions. For assistance, people can dial helpline numbers 112, 1070 and 18004250101.