When Will Cyclone Gaja Make Landfall in Tamil Nadu? Heavy Rainfall and Strong Winds Predicted for Next 24 Hours
The IMD said Gaja is expected to make landfall between Cuddalore and Sriharikota on November 15. According to the JTWC forecast, the time of landfall will be at early morning and according to IMD, it will be at the afternoon on Thursday.
Chennai, November 12: Cyclone Gaja is likely to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ within the next 24 hours and bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry. The cyclonic storm, which lay around 860 km northeast of Chennai on Monday, is moving at a speed of 12 kmph and is likely to become a severe cyclonic storm. Gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 85 kmph prevails over Eastcentral and adjoining Westcentral & Southeast Bay of Bengal.
According to reports, a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on November 11. The storm is likely to cross the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coast between Cuddalore and Sriharikota on November 15. A storm alert has been sounded in low lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall. Cyclone Gaja to Hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh on November 14, Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall to Lash the Southern States.
The IMD informed that Gaja is very likely to move west-south-westwards and intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and maintain the intensity during the subsequent 24 hours. While moving west-south-westwards, it is likely to weaken gradually and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Pamban as a Cyclonic Storm during 15th November forenoon, the release added. Cyclonic Storm LUBAN Over Arabian Sea; Heavy Rain Warning in West Bengal, Assam And Other Northeastern States.
When and Where Will Cyclone Gaja Make a Landfall?
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecasts, Cyclone Gaja will make landfall on Tamil Nadu on Thursday. The IMD said Gaja is expected to make landfall between Cuddalore and Sriharikota on November 15. According to the JTWC forecast, the time of landfall will be at early morning and according to IMD, it will be at the afternoon on Thursday.
In wake of the changing weather conditions, Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director S Balachandran was quoted by PTI saying that coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu would experience moderate rainfall and heavy rainfall in isolated places from the night of November 14. On November 15, many places will receive moderate rainfall and isolated places will get heavy rainfall.
In Tamil Nadu:
| November 14 | November 15 | November 16 |
| Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely to commence over north coastal areas from 14th November evening. | Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places. | Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at a few places and very heavy at isolated places very likely over interior areas |
In Andhra Pradesh:
| November 14 | November 15 | November 16 |
| Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely to commence from 14th November evening | Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places | Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places |
In Kerala:
| November 14 | November 15 | November 16 |
| No Rainfall Activity | Rainfall at many places with heavy at isolated places | Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places |
Gaja is the second cyclone to hit the coastal states of India in a month. In October, Cyclone Titli had caused destruction by killing a total of 70 people. According to IMD, the storm is likely to weaken gradually while crossing towards north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts as a ‘cyclonic storm’ during the forenoon of November 15.
Till the time the cyclonic storm passes over, the sea conditions are expected to be very rough. In its latest bulletin, the IMD has advised the fishermen to not venture into central parts of south and the central Bay of Bengal on 12th and 13th and into southwest & adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during 13-15th November.
The IMD, in its latest release, warned that the weather conditions may cause major damage in several districts of Tamil Nadu including Nagappattinam, Tiruvarur, Tanjavur, Cuddalore, Villupuram districts and Karaikal district of Puducherry. Major damage may be caused to thatched huts/houses, rooftops may blow off and unattached metal sheets may fly.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 12, 2018 11:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).