The very severe cyclonic storm over southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 15 kmph in the past six hours and lay centred at 1130 hours today, about 920 km east-southeast of Kakinada in coastal Andhra, an official bulletin said here today.
The system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around November 28 noon, it said.
Under the influence of the system, moderate rainfall at many places would commence from November 27 afternoon over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha.
Squally winds, with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from November 27 evening.
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It would increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along and off coastal districts of Krishna, West and East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts and 120-130 kmph gusting to 140 kmph over Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Guntur districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall, the bulletin said.
The bulletin has advised total suspension of fishing operations and fishermen out at sea along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts have been advised to return to coast. It also advised evacuation from coastal areas and judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. People in affected areas have been advised to remain indoors.
The government has already put the Collectors of coastal districts on high alert and announced a number of measures to deal with the situation.