Heavy Rainfall Expected in Coastal India as Cyclonic Circulation Intensifies: IMD Issues Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in India’s coastal regions, driven by an upper air cyclonic circulation that moved from the central Andaman Sea to the North Andaman Sea on Sunday. The IMD predicts the formation of a low-pressure area over the East Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Andaman Sea within the next 24 hours.

Cyclonic Storm Likely by October 23

According to the IMD, the system is expected to move west-northwest and intensify into a depression by the morning of October 22, potentially developing into a cyclonic storm by October 23 over the East Central Bay of Bengal. It is then likely to move toward the northwest, reaching the Bay of Bengal near the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by October 24.

The IMD has issued warnings for very heavy rainfall in South Interior Karnataka and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Additionally, heavy rains are expected in Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Karnataka’s coastal and north interior regions, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Andhra Pradesh today.

Earlier Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Services in Tamil Nadu

On October 19, heavy rains in Tamil Nadu caused widespread disruptions. Several areas in Chennai experienced waterlogging due to continuous rainfall, with Kathivakkam and Manali registering 23 cm and 21 cm of rain, respectively. Cholavaram saw 30 cm of rainfall, Red Hills 28 cm, and Avadi 25 cm. The depression over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal crossed the north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coasts early Thursday morning, bringing significant rainfall to the region.