Cyclone to hit TN, south India over 48 hrs

Chennai: The first depression of the season over Bay of Bengal is likely to become a full-blown cyclone, bringing rains over Tamil Nadu and rest of south India over the next 48 hours.

“Saturday’s well marked low pressure area intensified into a depression over southwest Bay of Bengal today (Sunday) about 450 kms southeast of Chennai,” deputy director of the meteorological  department S R Ramanan told.

“It would move west-north-westwards and intensify into a deep depression during the next 24 hours and subsequently into a cyclonic storm", he added. The depression could transform into a cyclonic storm and cross the north Tamil Nadu coast between Karaikal and Chennai by 6 pm on Monday, Ramanan said.

Once the depression turns into a cyclone, it would be named. In view of the low pressure, rain would occur at most places over Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry at many places over Kerala, Interior Tamil Nadu and at a few places over Coastal Andhra



Pradesh and Lakshadweep.

Isolated rain or thunder shower may occur over Coastal and South interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema in the next 48 hours. 

Regional Met office also instructed ports including Chennai, Karaikal and Puducherry to hoist district cautionary signal with section signal number four "Fishermen are advised to be cautious while venturing into sea along and off  Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts for next 24 hours and are advised not to venture into sea after 24 hours along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts" Ramanan said.

Normal life, meanwhile, was hit severely in many parts of Tamil Nadu since Saturday evening due to heavy rains that continued after the arrival of much awaited northeast monsoon on October 28.