Coastal alert: Cyclone Michaung to make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam on 5 December

🌧️Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall Alert☔

Residents of North Coastal #TamilNadu, #Puducherry, and #Karaikal are likely to experience extremely heavy rainfall (above 204.4 mm) on 3rd December and Heavy to very Heavy rainfall on 4th December. Stay safe and take all precautions! pic.twitter.com/CPVLr3Hc1z

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 1, 2023

Also read: Tamil Nadu rains: Heavy rainfall across the state

Movement of the cyclone

The weather system originated as a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, escalated to a depression on Friday, and is expected to intensify further into Cyclone Michaung by 3 December.

In a bulletin released by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Friday, 1 December, said the previously identified low pressure area in southeast Bay of Bengal had developed into a depression. As of 11.30 am IST it was at the southeast and adjacent southwest Bay of Bengal region, about 730 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 740 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 860 km southeast of Nellore.

The depression is expected to move west-northwestwards, strengthening into a deep depression by 2 December and further evolving into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal around 3 December. It will likely reach south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by 4 December forenoon.

The forecast suggests that it will move almost parallel to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross southern Andhra Pradesh during the forenoon of 5 December and make landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph.

Depression over Bay of Bengal lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of 01 Dec over the Southeast and adj Southwest BoB region about 730 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 740 km east-southeast of Chennai, 860 km southeast of Nellore.

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 1, 2023

Also read: Tamil Nadu rains: 5 dead in freak lightning strikes across the state

Expected areas to be hit by rain

As a result, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu for the next two days, said P Senthamarai Kannan, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, RMC, Chennai.

“Depending on real-time movement and convection, a few places around Chennai and its suburbs may accumulate rainfall up to 40 cm of rains by 5 December,” weather blogger K Srikanth told South First, adding that the heaviest rains from the cyclone is likely to fall between Pulicat and Mypaud near Nellore along the coastline. 

Over the past 24 hours, Tamil Nadu experienced heavy rainfall in various districts. Chennai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Erode recorded the highest rainfall at 5 cm each. Following closely, Mayiladuthurai received 4 cm, while Chengalpattu, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, and Kancheepuram received 3 cm each.

In the meanwhile, excess water released from Chembarambakkam lake has been increased to 3000 cubic feet due to the cyclone and heavy rain warning.

A holiday has been announced for schools and colleges of Chennai on 2 December. Chief Minister MK Stalin has cancelled his programmes till 4 December. This include the programme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was scheduled to be held on 2 December at Chennai’s Kalaivanar Arangam.

Also read: Tamil Nadu received 47% less rainfall in October