Cyclone Montha Update: Hyderabad experienced heavy rains on Saturday afternoon under cloudy skies, while the IMD issued an orange alert for Chennai as the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm called Cyclone Montha in the coming days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement that the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westward and is expected to form into a deep depression after the cyclonic storm.
“A depression over southeast Bay of Bengal has moved nearly west and centered over the same area at 11:30 am today… It is likely to move nearly west-northwest to intensify into a deep depression by 26th and into a cyclonic storm by 27th morning,” the IMD said in a statement.
The weather system is likely to move northwest and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm on the morning of October 28. The cyclone is named as Cyclone Montha.
Which states will be affected by Cyclone Montha?
In a post on X, the IMD said: “Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over several southern and eastern states in the coming days.”
The affected states are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Saurashtra and Chhattisgarh, where heavy rainfall with Cyclone Montha is expected between October 26 and October 30.
“Extremely heavy rain is expected over Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha on selected days,” the IMD said.
Orange alert in Chennai, red alert in Andhra Pradesh
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur and Ranipet where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected on October 27 when Cyclone Montha is expected to intensify.
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A red alert has been issued for the coastal belt and northern and southern regions of Andhra Pradesh from October 27 to 29 as Cyclone Montha batters the state.
Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall is expected to begin in Hyderabad in the next five days, the IMD said.
Cyclone Montha: What does the IMD forecast say?
Cyclone Montha is expected to move north-northwestward during the evening and night of 28 October and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 110 kmph.
“Telangana will experience gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph accompanied by thunderstorms in the next five days…Hyderabad may witness light to moderate rainfall today and tomorrow, with similar conditions expected to remain for the next five days,” IMD scientist Dharma Raju told ANI.
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alerted all District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other senior officials about Cyclone “Montha” and held a teleconference with them.
“As Cyclone Montha is expected to severely affect the state on October 26, 27, 28 and 29, the ministry has issued a red alert and officials must be alert,” Naidu said in a press release.
