Port Blair: A cyclonic circulation brewing over the Bay of Bengal has triggered a cyclone alert for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
The weather system is expected to intensify beginning October 21, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rough sea conditions over the next few days.
IMD Warns of Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms
The IMD has forecast heavy rain (7–11 cm) at isolated places in Nicobar Islands, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) across parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from October 21 to 23. The unstable weather is likely to continue on October 24 and 25, although with slightly reduced intensity.
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The alert includes a squally weather warning, with surface wind speeds reaching 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, likely over the Andaman Sea from October 22 to 23. As a result, the IMD has advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea and warned of rough sea conditions in and around the region.
Local Administration Issues Safety Guidelines
Following the IMD’s alert, the Andaman and Nicobar administration issued warnings to boat operators, islanders, and tourists, advising extreme caution. Officials urged recreational activity organisers to ensure all safety protocols are strictly followed, particularly in coastal and marine areas.
“Tourists and general public are advised not to venture into the sea and to strictly follow safety guidelines issued by the local administration,” a statement said. Boat owners have been asked to operate with utmost vigilance, considering the risk of surging waves and strong winds.
Low-Pressure Area Developing in Bay of Bengal
According to IMD, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 21, which may further intensify the system. This could impact not only the Andaman and Nicobar Islands but also parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, triggering moderate to heavy rainfall over the next several days.
Rainfall Predicted in Several Tamil Nadu Districts
The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall in several districts of Tamil Nadu due to the developing system. Areas likely to experience 64.5mm to 111.5mm rainfall include:
Erode, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Karaikal, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, and Nagapattinam.
Light rainfall is also likely over Salem, Thiruvallur, Viluppuram, and Puducherry and Karaikal areas.
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Highest Rainfall Recorded in Nilgiris and Chennai
As per TNSMART (Tamil Nadu System for Multi-hazard potential impact assessment, Alert, emergency Response planning and Tracking), the highest rainfall on October 19 was recorded in:
Kotagiri (Nilgiris): 137 mm
Kovilankulam (Virudhunagar): 135.4 mm
Makkinampatti (Coimbatore): 119 mm
Medavakkam (Chennai): 102 mm
Kamatcipuram (Dindigul): 0.2 mm (least)
These rainfall amounts indicate significant variation across regions, with hilly districts like Nilgiris bearing the brunt.
Ongoing Monitoring and Public Advisory
Authorities are closely monitoring the evolving weather system, and the IMD is expected to issue further updates as the low-pressure area intensifies. The next 3–5 days will be critical for both island territories and coastal Tamil Nadu. Residents, tourists, and seafarers are urged to stay updated with official weather bulletins and adhere to local advisories without fail.