Deep Depression to intensify into 'severe cyclonic storm', to cross between Ongole and Kakinada on Dec 17: IMD

The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 11 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 05:30 hrs on Saturday over southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal near latitude 9.0 North and longitude 85.5 East, about 470 km east-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 730 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 930 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

India Meteorological Department (IMD) in a bulletin said It is very likely to intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours and 'into a Severe Cyclonic Storm' in the subsequent 24 hours.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast 'between Ongole and Kakinada' during December 17 afternoon.

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 this evening.

Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls (20 cm) at isolated places is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 16 and 17.

Rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places likely over south Chhattisgarh and Odisha on December 16 and 17, the bulletin said.

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to commence along and off Andhra Pradesh, North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from December 15th evening. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from December 17 morning.

Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph will prevail over Southeast and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to increase gradually and become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph by this morning over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and 80-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over westcentral & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal on Sunday and Monday.

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

It is very likely to become rough to very rough along and off south Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu coast on December 15 and very rough to high tomorrow and day after tomorrow.

The fishermen are advised not to venture into southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal today and westcentral & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and along & off Andhra Pradesh, North Tami Nadu and Puducherry coasts on December 16 and 17.

Those, who are out in deep sea areas are advised to return to the coast, the bulletin added.