Chennai, September 24: Heavy rainfall is set to lash the southern states of India including Tamil Nadu, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Telangana over the next 48 hours as Cyclone Hikka heads towards Masirah in Oman. In its weather bulletin, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the severe cyclonic storm Hikka will reach Oman coast by the early morning of September 25 and weaken gradually thereafter. "Under its influence fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls very likely over Tamil Nadu and heavy falls over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Telangana during next 2 days", the IMD said in its release.

Earlier today, heavy rainfall lashed Rameswaram and several other areas in Tamil Nadu. On Tuesday, the IMD informed that Cyclone Hikka, which was over the Arabian sea, moved nearly westwards and has intensified rapidly into a very severe cyclonic storm. The severe cyclonic storm now lays centered over west- southwest of Karachi in Pakistan, 220 km east-southeast of Masirah in Oman and about 350 km east-northeast Duqm in Oman. Cyclone Hikka: Here's How the Cyclonic Storm Got Its Name, Know What the Next Cyclones Will Be Called.

Here's the tweet:

The IMD has also predicted moderate rains in coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch due to the possible formation of a deep depression over east-central and north-east Arabian Sea off Gujarat coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into northwest & adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea till September 25. According to private weather agency Skymet Weather, a cyclone has formed in the Arabian Sea not very far from the Gujarat coastline.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2019 12:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).