Tamil Nadu News

Cyclone Michaung nears Chennai coast, heavy rains likely for next two days; check landfall date, weather predictions

Chennai: Cyclone ‘Michaung’ which has been brewing in the Bay of Bengal intensified further into a Deep Depression (DD) on Saturday and is likely to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the districts in the northern Tamil Nadu coast including Chennai from December 3. The Cyclonic storm is anticipated to make landfall along the north Tamil Nadu coast, between Nellore and Machilipatnam, with winds reaching speeds of 100 kmph on Monday, December 4.

Cyclonic storm lies 500 Km southeast coast of Chennai

“Depression over SW BoB moved W-NW during past 06 hours, intensified into a DD and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 2 Dec, about 500 km E-SE of Puducherry, 510 km E-SE of Chennai, 630 km SE of Nellore, Likely to move W-NW and intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hrs,” the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) said in its latest weather bulletin.

Cyclone Warning : 02-12-2023 08:30:00 Depression over SW BoB moved W-NW with a speed of 18 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a deep depression and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 2 Dec, about 510 km E-SE of Chennai, likely to intensify into Cyclonic Storm within 24 hrs — Tamilnadu Weather-IMD (@ChennaiRmc) December 2, 2023

Red alert for Thiruvallur; Orange alert in Chennai

As cyclone Michaung is predicted to make landfall between Chennai and North Andhra Pradesh on December 4, IMD issued a ‘Red Alert’ to Thiruvallur district and an ‘Orange Alert’ to Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts. The weather agency has predicted that Chennai will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday during the landfall.

Also read: Cyclone Michaung: IMD issues red alert for Thiruvallur; orange alert in Chennai and other districts

On and off rains for Chennai today

The rainfall activity from the developing system in the bay may start tonight predicted Chennai-based weatherman K Srikanth of “Chennai Rains”.

According to a detailed post by Srikanth, the current ‘well marked low’ will intensify into a depression today and the rainfall activity will start tonight or tomorrow morning from delta districts and later shift towards north coastal Tamil Nadu including Chennai.

“Depression in bay 594 KM South East of Chennai & 492KM South East of Karaikal is stationed. Further intensifying into Deep Depression and may move NW track towards North TN Coast. Expected to intensify into CycloneMichaung in another 24 hours near Chennai Latitude. Further Landfall Location is to be Monitored as the Tricky conditions prevail near the coast. Rains have already commenced in Chennai. Expected on/off Moderate/Heavy Rains with Strong Surface Winds,” he said.

Also read: ED officer Ankit Tiwari arrest case: Tamil Nadu police searches ED sub-divisional office in Madurai

Srikanth also predicted that Cyclone Michaung which is currently brewing over the Bay of Bengal is likely to skip Chennai city with its landfall in coastal Andhra, but its effects will be felt in Chennai city and its suburbs.

“The first batch of rains for Chennai and suburbs from the Depression may happen soon as thunderstorms develop off the coast. As the circulation climbs up the spells will become more frequent and possibly heavier as well,” Srikanth said.

Rain holiday declared in Puducherry

As heavy rains have been forecasted, the Puducherry government has declared a holiday for schools on December 4, Monday in Puducherry, Karaikal, and Yanam.