Weather alert: IMD warns of continued heavy rainfall as Cyclone Montha shifts northeast

New Delhi: The severe cyclonic storm Montha made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday evening, packing wind speeds of up to 100 kmph and gusts reaching 110 kmph. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu confirmed two deaths due to the cyclone and said that relief operations are underway to assist affected communities.

According to preliminary reports, crops spread across 87,000 hectares—including paddy, maize, cotton, and black gram—have been damaged in 304 mandals. The storm also destroyed 380 kilometres of roads and 14 bridges, affecting nearly 79,000 farmers due to severe waterlogging. Naidu said the government is working continuously to provide relief and restore essential services in affected regions.

Odisha spared major devastation after Montha changes course

In Odisha, Montha weakened into a deep depression but triggered heavy rainfall and landslides in southern districts, damaging roads, bridges, and homes. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that a change in the cyclone’s trajectory spared the state from large-scale destruction, as the system made landfall near Amalapuram, around 300 kilometres from Malkangiri.

“The change in the cyclone’s trajectory spared Odisha from severe devastation,” Pujari said, adding that the state government had prepared for the worst based on IMD forecasts. Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre director Dr Manorama Mohanty clarified that the landfall occurred within the “cone of uncertainty,” which defines the probable path of a cyclone based on scientific models.

Rainfall spreads to Telangana, Bengal, and other eastern states

Telangana witnessed heavy rain across districts such as Warangal, Karimnagar, and Hyderabad on Wednesday. The Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre issued an orange alert for NTR, Palnadu, and Prakasam districts, advising fishermen not to venture into the sea.

The IMD forecast shows light to moderate rain or thunderstorms likely across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal till October 31, while Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim may experience rain through November 1. The weather agency has also predicted isolated heavy showers in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat during this period.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu experience moderate rain under Montha’s influence

The IMD forecast indicated moderate rain and thundershowers across parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu due to moisture carried inland from the weakening cyclone. Thiruvananthapuram reported cloudy skies and intermittent showers, while Chennai recorded light rainfall and thunderstorms.

Temperatures in Kerala ranged between 24°C and 32°C, with humidity levels above 85 percent. IMD has not issued any severe weather warnings for the region but cautioned that localised flooding is possible in low-lying coastal zones.

IMD monitoring: Cyclone weakens but rainfall alerts continue

IMD scientists said Cyclone Montha is gradually losing strength as it moves inland. Dr N. Puviarasan of the IMD said it would weaken into a depression within hours of landfall. Despite this, residual moisture and circulation are likely to bring rainfall to parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and coastal Karnataka through October 31.

Weather conditions remain cloudy across Hyderabad, Amaravati, Thiruvananthapuram, and Chennai, while Kolkata and Siliguri have been placed under a rainfall warning.

Cyclone Montha, which developed over the Bay of Bengal, made landfall along Andhra Pradesh’s coast near Kakinada on Tuesday evening, bringing strong winds and intense rainfall. The system, classified as a severe cyclonic storm by the IMD, crossed the coast with wind speeds between 90 and 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph.

Although Cyclone Montha has weakened, weather authorities caution that residual systems could cause localised flooding and landslides in hilly and coastal regions. Fishermen and residents in vulnerable zones have been advised to remain alert and follow safety directives.