Cyclonic Storm over ‘Phethai’ over southwest Bay of Bengal

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Cyclonic storm   ‘Phethai’  over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further north-northwestwards at a speed of 16kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 8.30 am on December 16, 2018, over southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 11.8°N and longitude 84.0°E, about 460 km northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 430 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 560 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 600 km south-southeast Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh).

It is very likely to intensify further into a severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada during December 17 afternoon. However, due to unfavourable environmental conditions, it is likely to weaken slightly before landfall and cross coast as a cyclonic storm.

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph prevails along & off South Andhra Pradesh, north Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph along and off central Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam district of Puducherry on December 17.Gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph is likely to prevail along & off remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh coast and squally wind speed 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail along and off north Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts on December 17, 2018, according to a PIB release. Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50kmph likely along and off South Odisha coast on December 17.

Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places very likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 16 & 17. Extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) at isolated places also likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 17.