Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in most parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
Cyclone Mandous was located about 180 kilometres southeast of Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) at 11.30 am December 9, 2022, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Mandous will cross north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and the adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota around Mamallapuram as a cyclonic storm either on the midnight of December 9 or the early hours of December 10, the IMD added.
The IMD has predicted light to moderate rain in most parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and heavy to very heavy rains in many areas December 9.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely to occur at isolated places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, north interior Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka and Kerala.
On December 10, torrential rains are also expected in different parts of north Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema due to the storm.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely to occur at isolated places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, south interior Karnataka and Kerala and light-to-moderate rain at isolated places.
Squally winds with speeds of up to 75-85 kilometres per hour (kmph), gusting to 95 kmph are likely to prevail over the southwest Bay of Bengal from December 9 morning.
Winds blowing at the rate of 70 to 80 kmph will be very strong on the evening of December 9 and are expected to reach the rate of 90 kmph.
Squally winds with speeds reaching 50-60 kmph and gusting to 70 kmph are very likely to prevail along and off the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh and north Sri Lanka coasts from December 9 morning.
In view of the above cyclone-related activity, the IMD has issued warned fishers against venturing out to sea.
Another impact of the cyclone could be in terms of storm surge, which is the increase in the height of tidal waves during a storm or cyclone. This occurs as the accompanying winds of the cyclone transfer some of their exuberance to the sea tides.
Down To Earth had reported December 8 about the IMD predicting a maximum storm surge of 0.5m above the astronomical tide, which could inundate the low-lying areas along the coast of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The weather agency had also indicated that the storm surge could be maximum in the region around Thiruvidanthai village in Tamil Nadu.
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