The Hindu Business Line : Depression turns into cyclonic storm

THE deep depression in the south-east Arabian Sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm and stopped dead on its tracks on Wednesday evening at a place "too close for comfort" for Amin Divi in the Lakshadweep.

The small islet had been subjected to a severe pounding only the previous day with a record-breaking 43 cm of rain falling in a space of 24 hours.

Its north-northwestward movement halted for the time being, the cyclonic storm is expected to rain it heavily down in Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, northern parts of Tamil Nadu and the Lakshadweep islands over the next 24 hours.

Under the influence of the system, widespread heavy rain was reported from all parts of Kerala. Ponnani in Malappuram lead the table, recording 22 cm during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.

Other major amounts of rainfall recorded are (in cm): Kodungallur - 20; Agathy - 17; Kochi - 19; Piravom - 15; Cherthala - 13; Mavelikara - 14; Aluva - 12; Haripad, Thalassery and Tiruvalla - 11 each; Cochin International Airport and Kottayam - 9 each; Punalur, Aryankavu, Peermade and Hosdurg - 8 each; Thiruvananthapuram City, Chalakkudy, Enamackal, Konni and Varkala - 7 each.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the system is likely to remain stationary "for some more time", intensify further and then proceed to move slowly in a north-northwestward direction. Rain or thundershowers are expected to spread to many places over Andaman and Nicobar islands and at a few places over South Interior Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Gales, squalls warned: The IMD has issued a warning on gales packing wind speeds reaching 80 kmph to 100 kmph over the Lakshadweep area and squally weather with winds blowing at 60 kmph to 80 kmph along and off the Kerala and Karnataka coasts. The state of the sea will be "very rough" and fishermen have been advised not to venture out into the open.

Mr M. D. Ramachandran, Director, Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, told Business Line that the slow-moving system was too volatile to hazard a guess on its behaviour in the short-term.

The considered view had been that it would stay on course with its north-northwest progression but the projections had now been belied with its graduation to a cyclonic storm at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday. It had then proceeded to stay put at a location 50 km east of Amin Divi.

Given its unpredictable nature, the Met Department did not either rule out the possibility of its taking a sudden curvaceous turn and heading for the coast again.

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