Cyclone Alert: Nivar Cyclone to Hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh on November 25; Extremely Heavy Rain likely in These States

Weather Warning: Nivar Cyclone that is brewing in the Bay of Bengal is slowly moving towards the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai & Puducherry. Nivar Cyclone is likely to make landfall on Wednesday (25^th Nov 2020) bringing heavy rainfall in these coastal regions.

Nivar Cyclone in Tamil Nadu

Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu is bracing for heavy rainfall along with strong winds after warning of a depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to intensify into a cyclone and pass the coast on Wednesday at around 6 am. The regional weather office said that the depression is around 740km south of Chennai at 2.30 am. National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) teams have been sent to Chidambaram and Cuddalore districts in Tamil Nadu.

Sr. meteorological scientist, KS Hosalikar said, “Low pressure area over southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal persists and is very likely to concentrate in depression & intensify in Cyclonic Storm in the next 24 hours. Very likely cross between Karaikal & Mahabalipuram on 25 November noon".   

Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar, who also heads the disaster management department said, "We have advised people in low lying areas to shift to safer zones. Our monitoring officers are alert as rainfall is expected between 6 - 12 cm in some districts, 12 - 20 cm in others & above 20 cm in few areas".

In the Ports like Cuddalore, Chennai & Tuticorin, local cautionary signal No. 3 has been imposed.

Nivar Cyclone Chennai

The Met department has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in coastal Chennai with windspeed of 50 -60 kilometre/hour. The fishermen have been asked to stay away from the sea.  As per reports, Chennai is likely to receive around 6-10 cm rainfall. Deputy Director-General of the regional meteorological centre in Chennai, S Balachandran told that rainfall will start in coastal Tamil Nadu districts on Monday & then intensify over the next two days.

Nivar is the name given by Iran according to the tropical cyclone naming in the Indian Ocean. An IMD release said, “Wind speed is likely to touch 100-110 km /hour from Tuesday onwards. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in all coastal districts, especially Cauvery delta districts because of Nivar cyclone”.