Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Residents of Chennai and adjoining areas have been placed on high alert as a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal shows signs of intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm, potentially named Montha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet districts on Saturday, anticipating very heavy rainfall on October 27.

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Formation and Forecast of Cyclone Montha

The IMD reported that the low-pressure area is currently moving westwards over the southeast Bay of Bengal at approximately 7 kmph. As of Saturday morning, the system was located about 460 km west-southwest of Port Blair, 950 km east-southeast of Chennai, 960 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 970 km southeast of Kakinada.

Meteorologists predict that the system is likely to:

• Intensify into a depression by October 26.
• Strengthen further into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 27, over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.
• Continue northwestward and north-northwestward, reaching severe cyclonic storm intensity by October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

Once the system strengthens into a cyclonic storm, it will be named Montha, a name contributed by Thailand, meaning “beautiful flowers”.

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Expected Landfall and Affected Regions

The IMD anticipates that Cyclone Montha will make landfall near Kakinada, along the Andhra Pradesh coast, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, during the evening or night of October 28.

For Odisha, the IMD has issued warnings for 10 districts under an orange alert for heavy rainfall on October 28: Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri. The remaining 20 districts are under a yellow alert.

On October 29, six districts—Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj—will remain under orange alert, with 10 other districts advised to remain alert under a yellow warning.

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Impact on Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is expected to experience widespread rainfall over the next few days, with districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet bracing for very heavy rainfall on October 27. The IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorms in Chennai and surrounding suburbs on Saturday, as the system approaches.

Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution, avoid venturing outdoors during heavy showers, and follow official advisories from the IMD and local disaster management authorities.

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Effect on Karnataka

The weather system is also expected to influence south Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru. The city is likely to witness moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by strong gusty winds due to a twin weather system in the region. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru, with rainfall expected to continue until October 26.

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Preparedness and Warnings

The IMD has been closely monitoring the Bay of Bengal system and issuing timely updates on its path and intensity. Officials have advised:

• Residents of coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu to remain vigilant.
• People to stay indoors during periods of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
• Local administrations to ensure evacuation plans are in place for vulnerable areas.

The approaching cyclone underscores the need for heightened readiness across multiple states, as the system is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, strong winds, and possible flooding in low-lying areas.

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Outlook

Cyclone Montha represents a developing severe weather threat in the Bay of Bengal, with the potential to significantly impact coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, along with adjoining regions in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The IMD continues to monitor the system closely and is expected to provide updated forecasts and warnings as the storm evolves over the coming days.

Authorities have urged residents and travelers in affected states to stay updated with official bulletins and take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the impending storm.