Low pressure area forms over Bay of Bengal, likely to intensify into cyclonic storm around November 16

A low pressure area formed over the Southeast Bay of Bengal on Friday morning and is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around the evening of November 16 (Monday), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, said the system is very likely to move northwestwards, and become a well-marked low pressure area on Saturday and intensify into a depression around Sunday morning, before moving north-northwestwards.

Dry weather is likely to prevail over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema till November 16, with light to moderate rain likely at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on November 17.

Squally weather with wind speeds of 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, is likely along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast on November 17. Fishermen at sea have been advised to return by Sunday.

Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain said that, as per current forecasts, the system is likely to move towards north Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts. However, there is no clarity yet on its exact track, intensity or place of landfall, he said.

Mr. Jain cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea, which is likely to be rough from Sunday, and appealed to the public to rely only on official information and not on rumours circulating on social media.

Meanwhile, Kurnool recorded the highest maximum temperature among the IMD stations in the State on Friday at 34°C, followed by Nandyal (33.8°C) and Tuni (33.4°C). Visakhapatnam recorded 32°C, which is 1.6°C above normal, and Amaravati 32.1°C. Tirupati airport received 2 mm of rainfall and Kavali 0.6 mm.