The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas are expected along India’s east coast — from Odisha to Tamil Nadu — over the next two days. This is due to a developing cyclone in the Bay of Bengal.
Once it strengthens, the storm will be named Cyclone Montha. It will likely be the first cyclone to make landfall in India this year. Earlier this month, Cyclone Shakti formed in the Arabian Sea near Gujarat, but it moved away from the Indian coast without hitting land.
Where and When Will It Rain?
According to IMD, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, and coastal Karnataka will receive very heavy rainfall (115–210 mm in 24 hours) until Tuesday.
Other regions such as coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and south Odisha can also expect heavy rain till October 30.
On Saturday, satellite images showed that the system was a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It was about 620 km west of Port Blair, 780 km east-southeast of Chennai, and 930 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.
The IMD said the storm is likely to move northwest and strengthen into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal by Monday.
Alerts and Warnings
A red alert has been issued for Monday in several districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and SPSR Nellore.
Heavy rain is also expected in northern Tamil Nadu (especially Thiruvallur district) and southern Odisha, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Kandhamal, and Ganjam, where an orange alert has been issued.
By Tuesday, the storm is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone and reach close to the Andhra Pradesh coast around October 28. It may make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, by Tuesday night.
The IMD has also issued a red alert for Tuesday in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, East Godavari, Eluru, Konaseema, Guntur, Krishna, and Bapatla.
Government Preparations in Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh government has already started preparing for the cyclone. Officials have held review meetings with district collectors of coastal areas, and emergency funds have been released to 11 districts.
To ensure quick response, eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and nine teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are on standby.
The government has declared holidays for schools and colleges till Wednesday.
Fishing and beach tourism activities have been suspended, and people have been advised to stay indoors.
In case of medical emergencies, mobile hospitals and medical camps are being set up in Kakinada and other coastal districts.
Past Cyclones in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh has seen several major cyclones in October in the past, such as:
Cyclone Titli – crossed near Srikakulam on October 11, 2018
Cyclone Kyant – weakened off the coast in October 2016
Cyclone Hudhud – made landfall at Visakhapatnam on October 12, 2014
Cyclone Ogni – crossed between Ongole and Machilipatnam on October 30, 2006
Stay Safe and Stay Informed
Residents in coastal areas are advised to stay updated with IMD alerts, avoid sea travel, and follow instructions from local authorities. With the storm expected to intensify, taking precautions now can help minimize risks and ensure everyone’s safety.
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