Cyclone ‘Michaung’ Roars Towards Andhra, Tamil Nadu; Landfall On December 5

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues a warning for Cyclone ‘Michaung,’ strengthening over the Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to make landfall between Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore and Machilipatnam on December 5, with winds reaching up to 100 kmph.

Puducherry has declared a holiday, and response teams are on standby. Southern Railway cancels 118 trains in Tamil Nadu from December 3-6.

Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a Cyclonic Storm MICHAUNG 0530 hrs IST 3rd Dec over the same region about 300 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 310 km southeast of Chennai, 440 km southeast of Nellore and 550 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. pic.twitter.com/qF59bp4Au1

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 3, 2023

Sunanda, MD of Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, states the current position and movement of the cyclone. It is projected to intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours, reaching the west-central Bay of Bengal by December 4. The cyclone is expected to cross south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Nellore and Machilipatnam on December 5.

S Balachandran, Deputy-Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, highlights the depression’s northwestward movement, concentrating into a cyclone over the next 24 hours. Heavy rainfall is forecasted for north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry (Dec 3-4), coastal Andhra Pradesh (till Dec 6), and Odisha (till Dec 6).

Fishermen are advised to stay off specific coasts until specified dates, and those at sea should return within 12 hours.

Stay tuned for updates on Cyclone ‘Michaung’ and take necessary precautions.