After ‘Arnab’, Andhra Pradesh may face another severe cyclonic storm

VIJAYAWADA Just days after Cyclone Arnab left a trail of destruction in Andhra Pradesh, weather experts warn that the State may face another severe cyclonic storm next week. The weather system developing over the Andaman Sea is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by November 2. A low-pressure area formed over the south Andaman Sea on October 29, a day after Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the Kakinada-Narsapur coast in the intervening night of October 27 and 28.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, in its 3.30 p.m. bulletin on Saturday, said the low-pressure area intensified into a well-marked low-pressure system over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andaman sea at around 5.30 a.m. The system moved west-northwestwards and concentrated into a depression by 11.30 a.m. By 5.30 p.m., it centered over south-east Bay of Bengal, about 960 km east-southeast of Chennai, 980 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, and 1,030 km southeast of Machilipatnam and 1,080 km east-southeast of Ongole.

Another IMD bulletin issued at 7.30 p.m. said the weather system may move west-northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression over south-east Bay of Bengal by the midnight, into a cyclonic storm over south-west and west-central Bay of Bengal by Sunday and further into a severe cylonic storm by November 2. This time, landfall is expected in the early hours of November 3 between Narsapur and Nellore along the Andhra Pradesh coast, with a maximum wind speed of 120 kmph.

The Central Andhra Pradesh is likely to be affected, the bulletin said. According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), scattered moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Prakasam, Markapuram and Nellore districts on November 1 and scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Eluru, West Godavari, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Markapuram, Nellore and Tirupati districts on November 2.

Sea conditions are likely to remain rough from November 1, worsening on November 2. Squally winds, with a speed reaching 40 kmph to 50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely along and off Andhra Pradesh, North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from November 1 and increase gradually on November 2. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the coast from November 2 to 4.