Cyclone Montha update: IMD issues red alert in several districts in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm is expected to form in the Bay of Bengal. The storm is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas.

The severe cyclonic storm, named “Montha”, is forecasted to have maximum sustained wind speeds of 90–100 kmph with gusts up to 110 kmph. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on the evening or night of October 28, if it continues on its north-northwestward path.

The central and south Bay of Bengal, along with the Andaman Sea, are characterised by scattered to broken low and medium clouds with embedded intense to very intense convection. Over the north Bay of Bengal, scattered low and medium clouds with isolated weak to moderate convection persist.

The system is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots, with an estimated central pressure of 1002 hPa.

IMD Scientist S. Jagannath Kumar told ANI, "A severe cyclonic storm is expected to form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall... The storm is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas, and strong winds... A storm surge of up to 1 meter above the astronomical tide is also expected... Red alerts have been issued for several districts, including Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Nellore."

He further added that fishermen have been advised, "not to venture into the sea for the next five days", and district authorities have been warned to prepare for the severe weather conditions.

On social media, the IMD said on Sunday, "A deep depression in the southeast Bay of Bengal and the likelihood of it turning into a cyclonic storm in the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by October 27."