Cyclone "Thane" to cross north Tamil Nadu coast on Friday

The "very severe" cyclonic storm "Thane" over southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to move westwards and cross the north Tamil Nadu coast, close to south of Puducherry, within a few hours and weaken gradually, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said this morning.

 

The cyclone had moved further westward and lay centered at 0530 hours today near latitude 11.80 North and longitude 79.9 East, very close to southeast of Puducherry, the IMD said in a bulletin issued at 0700 hours.

 

Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (25cm or more), would occur over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 24 hours, it said.

 

The bulletin said rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, would also occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema the same period.

 

Rainfall at many places, with isolated heavy rainfall, would occur over south Tamil Nadu, north Kerala and south Karnataka during the next 24 hours, it said.

 

Gale winds with speed reaching 120-130 kmph, gusting to 145 kmph, are likely along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during the next three hours and then decrease gradually.

 

Storm surge of about 1.0-1.5 metre height above the astronomical tide would inundate the low lying areas of Puducherry and Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Villupuram districts of north Tamil Nadu at the time of landfall.

 

Sea condition is phenomenal along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

 

Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into sea during next 24 hours.

 

The IMD said the maximum gale wind speed of 115-125 kmph had been reported at 0530 hrs along north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast, as Puducherry and Cuddalore observatories of IMD reported maximum sustained wind speed of 125 and 115 kmph, respectively.

 

The cyclone is expected to cause extensive damage to thatched roof and huts and minor damage to power and communication lines due to uprooting of large avenue trees. Flooding of escape routes is likely and the storm could also damage the standing rice, groundnut and maize in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and rice and groundnut in coastal Andhra Pradesh.

 

The IMD has suggested total suspension of fishing operations in the area and shifting of coastal hutment dwellers to safer places. People in the affected areas have been advised to remain indoors and cooperate with the disaster management authorities.

 

Even after landfall the system is likely to maintain its intensity for 12 hours and weaken gradually. Under its influence, rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall, is likely to continue over north Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry during the next 24 hours after landfall, causing inundation of low lying areas.

 

NNN

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