AP braces for heavy rainfall as cyclone threat looms

Visakhapatnam: The state would experience heavy to very heavy rainfall in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema with winds of a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90kmph gusting to 100kmph, the weather office said.

The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal on Sunday intensified into a cyclone storm Michaung. The storm is likely to cross the south coastal AP between Nellore and Machilipatnam on December 5 afternoon as a severe cyclonic storm.

The system could result in heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain in most parts of the coastal AP and Rayalaseema districts on Monday and Tuesday.

Under its influence, heavy rain lashed parts of Tirupati and Nellore districts on Sunday causing flooding. Parts of the Chittoor, Prakasam, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa and Bapatla districts experienced heavy rains and strong winds on Sunday.

Many parts of Chittoor, Tirupati, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya, Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari and Konaseema districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds of 80-90kmph gusting to 100kmph on Monday.

Most parts of Sri Sathya Sai, Nandyal, Palnadu, NTR, Eluru, East Godavari and Kakinada districts will also experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The IMD said parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh NCAP (Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Manyam, ASR and Srikakulam districts) and Kurnool and Anantapur will experience heavy rain on Monday.

On December 5, most parts of Prakasam, Palnadu, Baptla, Guntur, Krishna, NTR, Eluru and West Godavari districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall or extremely heavy rain accompanied by strong winds of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110kmph.

Parts of Nellore, YSR Kadapa, Nandyal and Kurnool, Konaseema, East Godavari and Kakinada districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Parts of NCAP and Annamayya and Tirupati districts will not be spared on Tuesday, the IMD said in its report.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and took stock of the preparations to handle Cyclone Michaung. The PM assured him of all help. He also directed top officials to ensure that all possible help is extended to the state.