Chennai:
Cyclone Thane is expected to strike India's south eastern coast early Friday morning. The districts of Cudallore, Puducherry and Nagapattinam are expected to receive maximum rain.
As per the last bulletin by the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclonic storm had moved westwards and lay centred about 90 km east of Puducherry and 125 km southeast of Chennai.
The system is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai, close to Puducherry around early Friday morning, the bulletin said.
Under the influence of this system, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall of 25 cm or more, while isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema in the next 36 hours beginning 2030 hrs, it said.
Isolated heavy rainfall would occur over south Tamil Nadu.
Gale winds reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph are likely along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours.
Storm surge about 1 to 1.5 metre above the astronomical tide would flood the low lying areas of Puducherry and Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Villupuram districts of north Tamil Nadu at the time of landfall.
"Sea condition is phenomenal along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into sea during next 24 hrs," it said.
The system is likely to maintain its intensity for 12 hours even after landfall and weaken gradually. Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall is likely to continue over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in next 24 hours.
Gale or squally wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is likely over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during 12 hours after the landfall.
Eight teams of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) have been sent to the coastal areas. Two of these teams will be in Andhra Pradesh, rest six in Tamil Nadu in view of the cyclone warning.
Also, 15,000 men of the NDRF are on alert.
Though Thane currently has an wind-speed of about 140 km per hour, it may weaken slightly and strike the coast with a speed of about 120 km per hour bringing widespread rains.
"Farmers are advised to drain out excess water from the field to prevent crop damage. For taller crops like banana, the leaves may be removed and extra physical support may be given," he said.
A weather scientist said that Cyclone Thane would probably be half in intensity than that of the super-cyclone that struck Orissa in 1999 which packed wind speed of more than 220 km per hour.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard said it had deployed ships Vigraha and Vajra from Paradip and Visakhapatnam for undertaking search and rescue operations required post land fall of the Cyclone.
Further, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft from Vishakapatnam has been launched from Santhapalli to Narsapur area for undertaking coastal surveillance and assistance to fishermen in distress at sea, a press release said.
Efforts are being made by coast guard region (East) to rescue stranded fishermen off Kasimedu (Chennai) who had ventured into the sea, it said.
"All the Coast Guard stations along the East Coast have been actively liaised since December 28 for early returning of fishermen of that area," it said.
The Coast Guard has further requested the fisheries departments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea until the weather condition improves, the release added.
As per the last bulletin by the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclonic storm had moved westwards and lay centred about 90 km east of Puducherry and 125 km southeast of Chennai.
The system is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai, close to Puducherry around early Friday morning, the bulletin said.
Under the influence of this system, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall of 25 cm or more, while isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema in the next 36 hours beginning 2030 hrs, it said.
Isolated heavy rainfall would occur over south Tamil Nadu.
Gale winds reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph are likely along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours.
Storm surge about 1 to 1.5 metre above the astronomical tide would flood the low lying areas of Puducherry and Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Villupuram districts of north Tamil Nadu at the time of landfall.
"Sea condition is phenomenal along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into sea during next 24 hrs," it said.
The system is likely to maintain its intensity for 12 hours even after landfall and weaken gradually. Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall is likely to continue over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in next 24 hours.
Gale or squally wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is likely over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during 12 hours after the landfall.
Eight teams of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) have been sent to the coastal areas. Two of these teams will be in Andhra Pradesh, rest six in Tamil Nadu in view of the cyclone warning.
Also, 15,000 men of the NDRF are on alert.
Though Thane currently has an wind-speed of about 140 km per hour, it may weaken slightly and strike the coast with a speed of about 120 km per hour bringing widespread rains.
"Farmers are advised to drain out excess water from the field to prevent crop damage. For taller crops like banana, the leaves may be removed and extra physical support may be given," he said.
A weather scientist said that Cyclone Thane would probably be half in intensity than that of the super-cyclone that struck Orissa in 1999 which packed wind speed of more than 220 km per hour.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard said it had deployed ships Vigraha and Vajra from Paradip and Visakhapatnam for undertaking search and rescue operations required post land fall of the Cyclone.
Further, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft from Vishakapatnam has been launched from Santhapalli to Narsapur area for undertaking coastal surveillance and assistance to fishermen in distress at sea, a press release said.
Efforts are being made by coast guard region (East) to rescue stranded fishermen off Kasimedu (Chennai) who had ventured into the sea, it said.
"All the Coast Guard stations along the East Coast have been actively liaised since December 28 for early returning of fishermen of that area," it said.
The Coast Guard has further requested the fisheries departments of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea until the weather condition improves, the release added.
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