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In a dramatic day of developments on Sunday, cyclone ‘Gati’ popped up over the South-West Arabian Sea far away from India’s coast. At the same time, India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared in its afternoon bulletin a pre-cyclone watch for the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
A low-pressure area had developed over the South-West and adjoining South-East Bay of Bengal on Saturday two days earlier than the IMD had predicted. It has become well-marked and is expected to concentrate into a depression over South-West Bay by Monday and intensify further into a cyclone by Tuesday.
N-E monsoon rides on twin cyclones
The IMD said that the cyclone is likely to move north-westwards and cross the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram on Wednesday noon/afternoon. In this manner, the twin cyclones have catapulted the North-East monsoon to peak form.
Rains are to scale up over the extreme South Peninsula from Monday with fairly widespread to widespread activity over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from Tuesday to Thursday; and over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Telangana on Wednesday and Thursday.
Extremely heavy rainfall
The IMD has also forecast isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Tuesday and Wednesday; over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema on Wednesday and Thursday; and over Telangana on Thursday.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into South-West and adjoining West-Central Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Mannar, and along and off the Tamil Nadu, Puduchery and South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Sunday and Wednesday. Those out at sea were advised to return home on Sunday.
Severe cyclone ‘Gati’
Meanwhile, farther away from India’s West Coast, cyclone ‘Gati’ developed on Sunday morning and was located by noon about 210 km South of Socotra (Yemen); 290 km East-South-East of Ras Binnah (Somalia); and 360 km East-South-East of Alula (Somalia) by noon.
The cyclone may intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by early Monday morning. It may cross the Somalia coast to the South of Ras Binnah later as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km/hr gusting to 120 km/hr. Since the system is away, it will not cause any adverse weather over the Indian region.
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