Cyclone Montha To Hit Andhra Coast On October 28, IMD Warns Of Heavy Rain And Strong Winds

Andhra Cyclone: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday stated that a well-marked low-pressure system over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm in the coming days.

Once intensified, the system will be named Cyclone Montha, a name given by Thailand. This will be the second cyclone to form in October this year, following Cyclone Shakthi, which developed over the Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coast.

Cyclone Montha: Expected Landfall And Wind Speed Between Machilipatnam And Kalingapatnam

According to the IMD, Cyclone Montha is likely to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on the evening or night of October 28. The storm is expected to bring wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

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Rainfall Warning Across Andhra Pradesh

Light to moderate rainfall has already begun over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and it is expected to continue for the next five to six days. The weather department has also warned of extremely heavy rainfall, more than 210 mm in 24 hours, over Rayalaseema on October 27 and 28.

Andhra Pradesh often experiences cyclonic activity during October. In previous years, storms such as Cyclone Titli (2018), Hudhud (2014), Kyant (2016) and Ogni (2006) have crossed the state’s coast during this season.

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Cyclone Montha Current Position

As of Saturday morning, the depression had moved westwards and was positioned about 440 km west-southwest of Port Blair, 970 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, 970 km east-southeast of Chennai, 990 km southeast of Kakinada, and 1,040 km south-southeast of Gopalpur.

The IMD has also warned of rough sea conditions along India’s east coast over the next few days. Wind speeds are expected to reach 70–80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, over the west-central Bay of Bengal until October 29.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea from October 26 onwards, especially in the southeast Bay of Bengal region.