Cyclone Michaung forms, alert issued for Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts

The Deep Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a Cyclonic Storm “Michaung” (pronounced as MIGJAUM), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Sunday.

The system lay centered about 300 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 310 km southeast of Chennai, 440 km southeast of Nellore, 550 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 550 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

As per IMD, cyclonic storm is likely to continue to move north-westwards and further intensify and reach Westcentral Bay Of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by December 4 forenoon.

“Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coast and cross South Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of December 5 as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph,” said IMD.