Chennai, Nov 24 (UNI) The cyclonic storm 'Nivar' over
southwest Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary
during the past three hours and lay centred over south
west Bay of Bengal about 410 km east-southeast of
Puducherry and 450 km southeast of Chennai.
A bulletin issued by the Met office on Tuesday said
it is very likely to intensify further into a severe
cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, move west-
northwestwards for next 12 hours and then north
westwards.
It is very likely to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram, about
55 km from here, around Puducherry on Wednesday
evening as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed
of 100 to 110 kmph and gusting to 120 kmph.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of Meteorology,
S Balachandran told reports here that Tambaram
recorded the highest rainfall of nine cms during the
last 24 hrs ending at 0830 hrs this morning.
It was followed by Nungambakkam and MGR Nagar
(8 cms).
He said several many places in coastal districts and
a few interior places would receive moderate rains
till tomorrow morning.
When the cyclonic storm was expected to make a landfall
tomorrow evening, coastal areas would get widespread
rains and many places in interior districts would get
moderate rains.
Rains would continue over Chennai and it would be with
heavy to very heavy intensity in one or two areas.
Mr Balachandran said one or two places in Karaikal,
Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai would be receiving
extremely heavy rains of more than 24.4 cm till
Wednesday morning.
Likewise, one or two places in eight districts such
as Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpet,
Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur would
get heavy to very heavy rains upto 25 cms.
While isolated heavy to very heavy rains were expected
in north coastal districts on Wednesday, the intensity
of the rainfall would be extremely heavy in one or two
areas in Puducherry, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur,
Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai
districts tomorrow.
Squally winds with wind speed ranging from 100-110 kmph
and gusting up to 120 kmph was likely in Nagapattinam,
Karaikal, Puducherry, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore,
Villupuram and Chengalpet when the cyclone moves close
to the coast tomorrow.
In Tiruvarur, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur,
squally winds may prevail at a speed of 80-90 km,
sometimes gusting up to 100 kmph from Wednesday
forenoon to night, he said.
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