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Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Cyclone Michaung intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, meteorological authorities are closely monitoring its trajectory, predicting a landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam on Tuesday morning with winds reaching speeds of up to 100 kmph.
Sunanda, MD of the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre at the India Meteorological Centre, provided an update on the storm’s progress, stating, “The deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards and is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours. The forecast indicates a northwestward movement towards the west-central Bay of Bengal, reaching the south Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon.”
She further added, “By December 5 forenoon, the cyclonic storm is projected to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam, bringing sustained winds of 80-90 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 100 kmph.”
S Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, emphasized the increasing strength of the cyclone, stating, “The depression over the South West Bay of Bengal is moving steadily northwestward, and over the next 24 hours, it is expected to intensify. By December 4, the cyclone will approach the West Central Bay of South Andhra and the North Tamil Nadu Coast, moving parallel to the coast in a northward direction.”
In anticipation of the cyclone’s impact, a 50-member team from the National Disaster Response arrived in the Kanchipuram district from Bengaluru on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
With the looming threat, meteorological authorities have issued a comprehensive rainfall warning for various regions in southern and eastern India. The forecast indicates light to moderate rainfall in north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on December 2, escalating to isolated heavy rainfall. Rainfall intensity is expected to increase from December 3, with widespread rain and heavy to very heavy rainfall at some locations. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is anticipated on December 3, gradually easing off by December 5.
As coastal communities gear up for the impending cyclone, authorities are urging residents to stay informed and follow safety guidelines to minimize potential risks and damages.
