Guwahati: A depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by November 17, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Sunday.
The weather system, named Cyclone Akvan, is expected to bring rainfall to northern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, while the system is forecast to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast around November 19.
According to the latest weather bulletin, a well-marked low-pressure area that developed over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Saturday moved northwestwards and intensified into a depression. It was centred over the region at 5:30 am on Sunday.
The system is expected to continue moving northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central parts of the south and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on November 16. It is likely to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm by November 17.
The Regional Meteorological Centre issued a nowcast alert at 1 pm on Sunday, warning of light to moderate rainfall at isolated places until 4 pm in Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Viluppuram districts, along with Puducherry and Karaikal.
The IMD also forecast moderate rainfall at isolated places across the Western Ghats and southern districts of Tamil Nadu from Monday.
Meanwhile, the weather system is expected to influence rainfall patterns along the eastern coast, with the IMD forecasting heavy rainfall in parts of West Bengal between November 19 and 21.
Coastal districts, including South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, are likely to receive heavy rainfall during this period. Similar conditions are expected in Howrah, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram on November 20 and 21.
The weather department has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kmph in Kolkata and several districts of Gangetic West Bengal.
In another weather development, temperatures across South Bengal are expected to rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius from November 18, potentially easing the prevailing nip in the air.
The IMD further reported that rainfall was recorded in several Tamil Nadu districts during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, including Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Kanyakumari.