A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Saturday and is likely to become a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on October 28, the India Meteorological Department said.
The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of Andhra Pradesh from October 26 to 29. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to remain alert and warn people in low-lying areas.
The depression was over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 pm on Saturday. It was about 510 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, 820 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 910 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,020 km east of Machilipatnam and 1,100 km east of Bapatla, the Met Department said in a release.
The system is likely to move nearly southwards and strengthen into a deep depression before gradually turning west to northwest over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal by October 25.
It is then expected to continue moving west to northwest and develop into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26.
The system is forecast to become a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around the morning of October 27.
It is likely to move northwestwards, intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.
The storm is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by late morning that day, with sustained wind speeds of 115 to 125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected at isolated places in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on October 26, 27 and 28.
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast at several places in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on October 27 and 28, with extremely heavy rain likely at isolated locations. Heavy rain is also expected in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on October 29.
The Met Department issued a cyclone alert to fishermen on October 22, advising them not to go to sea until October 29 and asking all fishing boats already at sea to return to the coast immediately, according to an official release cited by PTI.
Andhra Pradesh has a 1,053-km coastline across 12 coastal districts, with 555 marine villages, 350 fish landing centres and 30,043 fishing boats. Control rooms have been set up to monitor the situation and track the boats.
As of Saturday, 29,952 fishing boats had safely returned to their respective landing centres, while the remaining 91 were on their way back.
The Fisheries Department was monitoring their movement and taking measures to ensure that they reached the coast safely by Saturday night.
"The government is according the highest priority to the safety of fishermen and is taking all necessary precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and damage to fishing boats, fishing gear and other fishing equipment," the release said.
Naidu reviewed preparations for the developing weather system and instructed officials to remain vigilant and take precautions, including alerting residents of low-lying areas.
The depression is therefore forecast to strengthen rapidly before reaching the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28, prompting rain warnings, restrictions on fishing activity and precautionary measures across vulnerable coastal areas.
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