The low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression on Friday and is expected to become a cyclonic storm-'Michaung' in two days. In the wake of the depression intensifying, India Meterological Department (IMD) issued an 'orange alert' for southern states including Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
According to the IMD, the storm is likely to cross the coast between Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai on Monday (December 4) around evening.
It is likely to continue to move towards the west and northwest, intensify into a deep depression by Saturday and further into a cyclonic storm around Sunday, IMD added.
Thereafter, it would move in the same direction and cross South Andhra Pradesh and adjoining North Tamil Nadu coast between Chennai and Machilipatnam around the evening of Monday as a cyclonic storm, IMD said in a statement.
IMD predicted isolated heavy rains with light to moderate rainfall at most places across the regions of north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Saturday.
In Odisha, an isolated heavy rainfall is likely over the south coastal and adjoining south interior region of the state on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy rains in Tamil Nadu
Heavy rain is expected at isolated spots in Pudukkottai, Tanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal area.
For Sunday, the weather department predicts light to moderate rain at many places with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal area.
There is a forecast of heavy to very heavy rain in areas, including Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Potential waterlogging in certain areas are also predicted by Chennai's met department.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin held a review meeting on Friday to check on the preparedness ahead of the cyclone 'Michaung'.
CM had asked concerned departments to take precautionary measures and said that people likley to be impacted should be mived to relief camps. He also directed district collectors to ensure food, electricity and essential items to those affected.
Rain prediction in Andhra Pradesh
According to IMD, the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall in most areas, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few locations and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated spots on Sunday and Monday.
The weather department also forecasts extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on December 5.
Meanwhile, in the Rayalaseema region of the state, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated on Sunday and Monday.