Cyclone Montha Landfall: Severe Storm to Bring 100 kmph Winds to Andhra Coast This Evening

Cyclone Montha has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over Bay of Bengal and is heading towards Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting evacuations in several coastal states.

According to the IMD, during landfall, Cyclone Montha is expected to pack wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, which may cause damage to coastal infrastructure, uprooting of trees, and disruption of power lines in affected districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds across both coastal and inland regions.

Andhra Pradesh is on high alert as the cyclone is expected to make landfall near Kakinada between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the evening or night of October 28.

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In Andhra Pradesh, officials predict that most coastal districts will experience extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 90-110 kmph. "Cyclone Montha is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast by Tuesday evening or night. We have issued an orange alert for Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu districts, while the remaining northeast districts are under yellow alert," said IMD Hyderabad official GNRS Srinivasa Rao.

Preparations in Odisha

Odisha has initiated large-scale evacuations in eight southern districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal. A "red warning" for extremely heavy rainfall has been issued in these areas. Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari stated that their priority is zero casualty with a focus on evacuating pregnant women, elderly persons, and the differently-abled.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) anticipates high sea waves ranging from 2 to 4.7 metres along the Andhra Pradesh coast from Nellore to Srikakulam. There is a possibility of inundation in low-lying areas during landfall. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to evacuate residents from vulnerable coastal areas to rehabilitation centres while ensuring safe drinking water and food availability.

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Tamil Nadu's Rainfall

In Tamil Nadu, several northern districts such as Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram recorded heavy rainfall on Monday. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai mentioned that rainfall might continue as Montha moves north-northwestward. However, "the cyclone is unlikely to cause major damage in Tamil Nadu." Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin assured that the state was "fully prepared" after inspecting vulnerable areas around Chennai.

Maharashtra's Vidarbha region is also expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall between October 28 and 30. This includes areas like Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal, Bhandara, Gondia, and Nagpur. Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds up to 50 kmph are anticipated. A 'yellow alert' has been issued for these regions.

Warnings for Other States

Apart from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, other states like Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Goa are also on alert due to Cyclone Montha's outer bands moving inland post-landfall. The IMD has issued yellow alerts for these regions warning of moderate rainfall and thunderstorms.

The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until October 29 due to high surface winds and rough sea conditions. In Odisha alone more than 128 rescue teams have been deployed including personnel from the NDRF ODRAF and Odisha Fire Service with special attention given to hilly regions prone to landslides.

The situation remains critical as authorities continue monitoring Cyclone Montha's movement closely while ensuring safety measures are in place across affected regions.

Credit: Oneindia