Cyclone to cross Tamil Nadu, Andhra coast Wednesday

Chennai - Nilam, a cyclonic storm centred over the Bay of Bengal, is expected to cross the coast of northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday, the Met Office said Tuesday.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department here, the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into the cyclonic storm and is located about 500 km south-southeast of Chennai.

Nilam would move north-west and cross Nagapattinam, 320 km from here, and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, around 180 km from here, Wednesday afternoon or evening, the Met Office said.

According to a weather bulletin, rainfall is predicted over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in over 12 hours.

Squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting of up to 65 kmph would prevail along and off northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining coasts of Andhra Pradesh in the next 12 hours.

The wind speed is expected to increase gradually as Nilam nears the coast.

The condition of the sea will be rough along northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh and fishermen have been asked not to venture into the waters.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced shut down of schools and colleges due to the rain and storm.

The downpour also affected traffic on the arterial Anna Salai and other main throughfares here.