Cyclone Alert for South Tamil Nadu and South Kerala coasts

According to the Cyclone Warning Division  of the India Meteorological  Department (IMD):

Yesterday’s depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards, intensified into a deep depression lay over the same region about 500 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) and 900 km east-southeast of Kanniyakumari (India).

It is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and cross Sri Lanka coast between latitude 7.5⁰N and 9.0⁰N close to Trincomalee during evening/night of 2^nd December. It is very likely to move nearly westwards thereafter, emerge into Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area on 3^rd December morning and move westward towards south Tamilnadu coast.

Forecast track and intensity are given below:

Warnings:

(i) Rainfall

• Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated Extremely heavy falls very likely over south Tamilnadu (Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai) on 2^nd and 3^rd December, 2020; over south Kerala(Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzah) on 3^rd  December and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over south Tamilnadu on 2^nd & 4^th December 2020 and south Kerala on 3^rd & 4^th December, 2020.
• Heavy to very heavy rainfall at Isolated places very likely over north Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Mahe  & Kariakal and north Kerala during 2^nd & 3^rd  December, isolated heavy rainfall on 4^th December and isolated heavy rainfall over coastal Tamilnadu on 1^st December.
• Heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south Coastal Andhra Pradesh during 2^nd & 03^rd December and over Lakshadweep during 03^rd and 4^th December, 2020.

(ii) Wind warning

• Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph very likely over central parts of South Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours.
• It would gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from 1^st December evening. It would gradually increase becoming 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over southwest Bay of Bengal, along & off Sri Lanka coast from 2^nd December morning for subsequent 24 hours.
• Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar and south Tamilnadu-Kerala coasts from 2^nd December forenoon. It will gradually increase becoming 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over Gulf of Mannar, along & off south Tamilnadu & Kerala coasts, over Comorin Area, Lakshadweep-Maldives area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea from 3^rd December morning and 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph from evening of 3^rd December for subsequent 24 hours.

(iii) Sea condition

• Prevailing rough to very rough sea condition over southeast Bay of Bengal will continue during 1^st December and very rough to high over southeast & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and along & off east Sri Lanka coast during 1^st & 2^nd December, and rough to very rough over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar & along & off south Tamilnadu-Kerala coasts from 2^nd to 4^th December.

· Sea condition will be rough to very rough over Lakshadweep-Maldives area and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea during 3^rd – 4^th December.

(iv) Fishermen Warning

• Total suspension of fishing operation during 1^st december to 4^th December over the areas as mentioned below.
• Fishermen are advised not to venture into southeast Bay of Bengal during 1^st December, southwest Bay of Bengal and along & off east Sri Lanka coast  from 1^st to 3^rd December; Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar and south Tamilnadu-Kerala coasts from 2^nd to 4^th December,  over Lakshadweep-Maldives area & adjoining southeast Arabian Sea from 3^rd to 4^th December.   
• Fishermen out at Sea are advised to return to the coast by today.

The system is under continuous surveillance and the concerned state governments are being informed regularly.