Technology
As Cyclone Montha looms, IMD issues alerts for Andhra Pradesh
With Cyclone Montha likely to form on October 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has issued alerts across the State till October 29. Red alert has been issued for at least 12 districts on October 28 and 29.
On October 25 (Saturday), the well-marked low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression at 5.30 a.m. and remained over the same region at 11.30 a.m.
It is likely to intensify into a deep depression by October 26 (Sunday) and into a cyclonic storm over southwest and westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 27 (Monday) morning. It will then intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28 (Tuesday).
The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the evening of October 28, with a maximum wind speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, according to the IMD.
Heavy rain warning
As a result, the State will see very heavy to extremely heavy rain on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (October 27, 28 and 29).
A red alert has been issued for six districts on Monday. It has been issued for more than 10 districts, most of which are in the coastal areas, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The districts that may receive extremely heavy rainfall (red alert) on October 27 (Monday) are Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa. On that day, an orange alert has been given for the districts of Chittoor, Nandyal, Palnadu, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema. Except for Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram-Manyam, where there is no warning, a yellow alert has been given for the remaining districts.
The 12 districts that are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall (red alert) on October 28 (Tuesday) are Kadapa, Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla, Guntur, NTR, Krishna, West Godavari, Eluru, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and Kakinada. Orange alert have been issued for the districts of Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Nellore, Tirupati and Nandyal on that day. The remaining districts have been given yellow alert.
According to the IMD, the rainfall activity will be concentrated in the Central and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 29 (Wednesday), when there is a red alert for the districts of NTR, Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari, Eluru, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagram. There is no warning for Rayalaseema on that day.
Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gales, are likely across the State on October 28 (Tuesday) and October 29 (Wednesday). Squally winds, with speed of 60-70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, are likely at isolated places in the State on Tuesday, while on Wednesday gales, with speed of 90-100 kmph, are likely at isolated places in North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
There are no rainfall or wind alerts for October 26 (Sunday) and October 30 (Thursday), but isolated heavy rainfall is likely in a few places.
On October 25 (Saturday), a few places in Tirupati, Prakasam, Nellore, Parvathipuram-Manyam, and Chittoor districts received light to moderate showers.
‘Set up control rooms’
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has asked the district Collectors to open control rooms in all the mandals.
In a teleconference on October 25 (Saturday), he asked them to ensure that the village-level staff were alert at the field level. He directed the officials to ensure that stocks of essential commodities such as milk, vegetables and candles were kept ready.
The Collectors were also asked to monitor power supply and ensure that it was restored immediately during disruptions. He also asked them to coordinate with the telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted mobile signals.
It was also advised to shift all pregnant women in the island villages to the health centres as a precautionary measure. People were advised to not travel, or venture into the sea, on October 27, 28 and 29, when red alert had been given for more than 10 districts in the State.
With Cyclone Montha likely to form on October 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has issued alerts across the State till October 29. Red alert has been issued for at least 12 districts on October 28 and 29.
On October 25 (Saturday), the well-marked low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression at 5.30 a.m. and remained over the same region at 11.30 a.m.
It is likely to intensify into a deep depression by October 26 (Sunday) and into a cyclonic storm over southwest and westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 27 (Monday) morning. It will then intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28 (Tuesday).
The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam on the evening of October 28, with a maximum wind speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, according to the IMD.
Heavy rain warning
As a result, the State will see very heavy to extremely heavy rain on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (October 27, 28 and 29).
A red alert has been issued for six districts on Monday. It has been issued for more than 10 districts, most of which are in the coastal areas, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The districts that may receive extremely heavy rainfall (red alert) on October 27 (Monday) are Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya and Kadapa. On that day, an orange alert has been given for the districts of Chittoor, Nandyal, Palnadu, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema. Except for Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram-Manyam, where there is no warning, a yellow alert has been given for the remaining districts.
The 12 districts that are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall (red alert) on October 28 (Tuesday) are Kadapa, Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla, Guntur, NTR, Krishna, West Godavari, Eluru, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema and Kakinada. Orange alert have been issued for the districts of Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Nellore, Tirupati and Nandyal on that day. The remaining districts have been given yellow alert.
According to the IMD, the rainfall activity will be concentrated in the Central and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh on October 29 (Wednesday), when there is a red alert for the districts of NTR, Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari, Eluru, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagram. There is no warning for Rayalaseema on that day.
Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gales, are likely across the State on October 28 (Tuesday) and October 29 (Wednesday). Squally winds, with speed of 60-70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, are likely at isolated places in the State on Tuesday, while on Wednesday gales, with speed of 90-100 kmph, are likely at isolated places in North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
There are no rainfall or wind alerts for October 26 (Sunday) and October 30 (Thursday), but isolated heavy rainfall is likely in a few places.
On October 25 (Saturday), a few places in Tirupati, Prakasam, Nellore, Parvathipuram-Manyam, and Chittoor districts received light to moderate showers.
‘Set up control rooms’
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has asked the district Collectors to open control rooms in all the mandals.
In a teleconference on October 25 (Saturday), he asked them to ensure that the village-level staff were alert at the field level. He directed the officials to ensure that stocks of essential commodities such as milk, vegetables and candles were kept ready.
The Collectors were also asked to monitor power supply and ensure that it was restored immediately during disruptions. He also asked them to coordinate with the telecom operators to ensure uninterrupted mobile signals.
It was also advised to shift all pregnant women in the island villages to the health centres as a precautionary measure. People were advised to not travel, or venture into the sea, on October 27, 28 and 29, when red alert had been given for more than 10 districts in the State.
