As TN braces up for heavy rains, Cyclone to cross Nellore-Machilipatnam coasts in AP on Dec 5

Chennai, Dec 1 (FN Agency) The depression over the bay is likely to intensify further into a cyclonic stormon December three, promising heavy rains in North Tamil Nadu coasts, before it will cross the coasts between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on the forenoon December five as Cyclonic storm. The Tamil Nadu government is bracing up for the impending cyclone-induced rains and has put in place all precautionary measures, including evacuating people living in low lying areas to relief camps. As met office has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in North Tamil Nadu coasts, including Chennai and neighbouring districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur and other districts for two days from Sunday, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Friday reviewed the cyclone preparedness with the Collectors of 12 districts via video-conferencing from the State Secretariat and directed the authorities to put in place all preventive measures.As the city and its suburbs is still recovering from the torrential rains that lashed on Thursday evening, with several areas in the city and in outskirts still under water, people are advised to stay indoors in view of the Cyclone.

Meanwhile, the Met office said the Depression over Southeast and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during the last six hours. It now lay centered over the same region about 730 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 740 km east-southeast of Chennai, 860 km southeast of Nellore, 930 km southeast of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) and 910 km southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).It is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify into a Deep Depression by Saturday and further into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal around Sunday.Thereafter, it would move northwestwards and reach near South Andhra Pradesh and adjoiningNorth Tamilnadu coasts by the forenoon of December four.Thereafter it would move nearly northwards almost parallel to south Andhra Pradesh coast andcross South Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam as a Cyclonic Storm on the forenoon of December five with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph and gusting to 100 kmph.