An image released by the Met Department shows cyclonic storm Lehar developing over the Bay of Bengal.
The intensity of cyclonic storm Lehar, that is expected to hit Andhra Pradesh coast today, has weakened but the state government remains alert, evacuating people from vulnerable areas.
About 35,000 people have been evacuated in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh that were put on high alert following what was expected to be a "very severe cyclonic storm" Lehar. The storm, which has now weakened into a "severe cyclonic storm", is expected to cross the coast at Machilipatnam later this afternoon.
The weather forecasters have said that since the cyclonic storm has weakened, wind speeds will not be 150-200 kmph as earlier predicted but much less, about 80-90 kmph.
A bulletin issued at 5:30 am by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) wrote that Lehar moved west-northwestward in the Bay of Bengal with a speed of 15 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0230 hours IST of today, over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 280 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 250 km south-southeast of Kakinada.
The weather department says that Lehar would weaken further and cross Machillipatnam as a deep depression.
Experts say the reason the intensity has come down is because of cold temperature, wind shear and also cold wind from central India.
The state government, however, continued its preparations to face the situation. 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state relief teams have been deployed and are on standby. Warnings not to venture into sea continue for fishermen.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who reviewed the situation with officials, has directed the administration at Hyderabad and all the coastal districts, particularly Krishna, East, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam to be on high alert and take precautionary measures.
At the time of the cyclone's landfall, wind speed could increase further along the districts of Guntur, Krishna, West and East Godavari and adjoining areas of Vishakhapatnam and Yanam.
The cyclone is expected to wreak damage to homes, crops and power and communication lines, the release said.