India
Andhra cyclone nears 130-kmph landfall as Kerala and Tamil Nadu face red alerts
Southern states tighten emergency planning as extreme weather threatens essential services
Southern states tighten emergency planning as extreme weather threatens essential services
A storm over the may strengthen and move toward the Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts. It could make around October 28, bringing winds of about 130 kmph. Thirteen Andhra districts face for extreme rain, , flooding and destructive winds. Coastal Andhra and Odisha may see stronger from October 27 to 29. Officials are preparing evacuations, shelters and rescue services, but the storm’s path, timing and strength may change.
Separate weather systems could bring heavy to extremely heavy rain to Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and . People may face flooding, travel disruption, school and port closures, power and phone failures, and fishing restrictions. The combined threat could damage crops and roads, buildings and other public facilities. The final impact will depend on where the cyclone crosses and where the heaviest rain falls.
The latest available IMD bulletin continued to forecast across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe. It also retained rainfall warnings for Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema. The available reports do not document a confirmed cyclone landfall, 130-kmph forecast, or associated damage assessment.
IMD forecast thunderstorms, lightning and over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal through October 28. Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep also faced periods of gusty weather. The agency separately forecast very heavy rain over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe.
A over the , off the Tamil Nadu coast, brought forecasts of heavy to very heavy rain over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Kerala through October 25. IMD also forecast rain over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and , Rayalaseema, Karnataka and Lakshadweep. The system established the weather background for the later cyclone threat.
IMD said isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely over Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and . Kerala and remained under a heavy-rain forecast. The wider rainfall pattern increased the risk of flooding, waterlogging and travel disruption across several southern states.
The forecast widespread rain across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, , Kerala and Mahe from October 15 to 21. It warned of in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala, while Andhra Pradesh faced isolated heavy rain. The warning marked the first broad southern India escalation in the current period.