Deep Depression over southeast Bay of Bengal likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours

New Delhi: Pre-cyclone watch issued for Andhra Pradesh Coast

The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 06 hours and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of 14^th December, 2018 over southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 8.2°N and longitude 87.6°E, about 700 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 960 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1130 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is very likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours and into a Severe Cyclonic Storm in subsequent 36 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada during 17^th December afternoon.

Forecast track and intensity are given in the following table:

Warnings:

1. Heavy rainfall warning

• Rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places likely to commence over coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas of north coastal Tamil Nadu from 15^th December evening.
• Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) at isolated places likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh on 16^th & 17^th December.

2. Wind warning for Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along & off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamilnadu & Puducherry coasts from 15^th Dec. evening. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed of 80-90 kmph along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from 17^th December forenoon.

3. Wind warning for Sea areas

• Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph prevails over southeast & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.  It is very likely to increase gradually and become gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph by 14^th December evening and 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph during 15^th evening to 16^th evening over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and 80-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal during 16^th evening to 17^th evening.

4. Sea condition

The sea condition is very rough over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to become high from 14^th December evening.  The sea condition is very likely to be high over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal on 15^th and high to very high over westcentral & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on 16^th & 17^th December.

5.  Fishermen Warning

• The fishermen are advised not to venture into southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 14^th, into southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal on 15^th and westcentral & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on 16^th and 17^th December.
•    Those, who are out in deep sea areas are advised to return to the coast.