This is the fourth tropical storm over the Bay of Bengal and is named as Michaung by Myanmar, which means strength.
Cyclone Michaung in Andhra Pradesh.
Strong winds uprooted trees and electric poles, affecting power supply in Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Michaung made landfall on Tuesday, 5 December.
The severe cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal near the south Andhra Pradesh coast moved northwards with a speed of 11 kmph for six hours and crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast just south of Baptla from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The system is likely to move nearly northwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm during the next two hours.
While making landfall, the eye of the storm was situated near Bapatla on south Andhra Pradesh coast while the forward sector of the weather system had also entered overland. The landfall phenomenon lasted around three hours.
By 2.30 pm, it lay centred over south coastal Andhra Pradesh about 15 km southwest of Bapatla and 40 km northeast of Ongole.
This is the fourth tropical storm over the Bay of Bengal this year and is named Michaung (pronounced Migjaum) by Myanmar, which means strength.
Meanwhile, 9,454 people have been evacuated from the seven districts of Konaseema, Kakinada, Krishna, Bapatla and Prakasam to safety in 211 relief camps, according to a dataset shared by APSDMA with PTI.
The state government evacuated 910 people from Konaseema district, Kakinada (523), Krishna (1,814), Bapatla (702), Prakasam (128), Nellore (1,991) and Tirupati (3,386).
As part of relief efforts, 10,251 food packets were distributed and 18,068 water packets.
With the severe cyclonic storm Michaung anticipated to hit Bapatla during its passage, residents have been advised against going outdoors
Location of the cyclone as of 7.32 am on 5 December.
The weather system over the west-central Bay of Bengal, running along and off the south Andhra Pradesh coast, is likely to move nearly northwards, parallel and close to the south Andhra Pradesh coast, Met Department said.
Bapatla district superintendent of police Vakul Jindal told PTI that people living in thatched houses in the region have been evacuated. He said 21 cyclone shelters have been set up, even as 10 trees got uprooted and 12 bridges and culverts are overflowing in the district.
“As of now there is not much of a human impact. It is raining and a bit windy. We have cleared the uprooted trees and stopped vehicle movement at overflowing places. We are vigilant and we will see what happens and respond accordingly,” Jindal said.
Cyclone Michaung is expected to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam, close to Bapatla, as a “severe cyclonic storm”, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) release.
According to the release, 213 mm of rainfall was recorded in Bapatla between 8.30 pm on 4 December and 6.30 am on Tuesday, 5 December, with Nellore receiving 209.5 mm, Machilipatnam 149.3 mm, Kavali 142.6 mm, and Ongole 114.4 mm.
As a result, several places were waterlogged and flooded, causing extensive damage to paddy crops grown in the region.
The IMD mentioned that the cyclone is moving at a maximum speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph.
Cyclone #Michaung hits #AndhraPradesh, likely to make land fall in between #Nellore and #Machilipatnam coastal zone tomorrow around 11:00 am. Schools shut, busses, trains, and flight services stand cancelled. @TheSouthfirst pic.twitter.com/rPJVhGNCnp
— Bhaskar Basava (@bhaskar_basava_) December 4, 2023
As of 8.30 am on Tuesday, the weather system had moved at a speed of 12 Kmph over the past six hours, positioning itself near latitude 15.2 degrees north and longitude 80.25 degrees east.
According to the latest bulletin from the IMD, the weather system is situated 40 km northeast of Kavali, 80 km north to northeast of Nellore, 80 km south to southwest of Bapatla, and 140 km south to southwest of Machilipatnam.
Michaung cyclone, Bapatla. (Supplied)
S Stella, Scientist and Head of the Meteorological Centre in Amaravati, told South First: “The post-monsoon season of October-December is the major cyclone season, and this cyclone falls in that category. It originated from the Andaman Sea but emerged in the Pacific Ocean and traveled all the way to the Bay of Bengal.”
She explained that such cyclones tend to intensify as they travel longer distances.
Regarding the anticipated conditions at the time of landfall, she said, “Storm surges and tidal waves up to two meters are predicted as the cyclone nears the coast. Strong winds with speeds of 90-100 kph, gusting to 110 kph, are expected during the landfall.”
Further explaining the post-landfall event, she said, “Once it makes landfall, the intensity will gradually reduce, and rainfall in and around Godavari and Rajahmundry is expected as it is likely to move in that direction.”
“And, by tomorrow, mild rainfall is expected, and by 7 December, things should return to normal,” she said.
With Cyclone Michaung poised for landfall, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials on Monday to be on high alert to implement relief measures.
Reddy instructed the officials to show empathy towards those affected. Addressing the district collectors, the chief minister stated that he would personally visit the affected areas, and expressed his desire not to hear complaints from the people after the cyclone subsides.
Meanwhile, Nara Lokesh, the TDP general secretary who has resumed his padayatra, has postponed his Yuva Galam (Voice of Youth) padayatra by three days due to the inclement weather.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy also sought help and support from his Andhra Pradesh counterpart for Yanam, a Union Territory town located in the Kakinada district.
Rangasamy wrote to Reddy, requesting Andhra Pradesh’s cooperation and support to complement the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the Yanam administration.
Ankapalle: 08924 – 221698
Tuni: 08854 – 252172
Samalkot: 08842 – 327010
Rajahmundry: 08832 – 420541
Tadepalligudem:08818 – 226162
Eluru: 08812 – 232267
Bhimavaram Town:08816 – 230098; 7815909402
Vijayawada: 08862 – 571244
Tenali: 08644 – 227600
Bapatla: 08643 – 222178
Ongole: 08592 – 280306
Nellore: 08612 – 345863
Gudur: 08624 – 250795; 7815909300
Kakinada Town: 08842 – 374227
Guntur: 9701379072
Repalle: 7093998699
Kurnool City: 8518220110
Tirupati: 7815915571
Renigunta: 9493548008
Commercial Control, Secunderabad: 040 – 27786666
Secunderabad: 040 – 27801112
Hyderabad: 9676904334
Kacheguda: 040 – 27784453
Kazipet: 0870 – 2576430
Khammam: 7815955306
(With PTI inputs)
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