Cyclonic Storm Kyant: Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha may witness rainfall during Diwali weekend, says IMD

Cyclone ‘Kyant’ over the Bay of Bengal is unlikely to make a landfall, but coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha may expect a wet Diwali, IMD said on Wednesday.

“The cyclonic storm ‘KYANT’ over east-central Bay of Bengal moved further west-southwestwards and lay centred 450 km southeast of Gopalpur, 520 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam and 730 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam.

“The cyclone is most likely to move west-southwestwards towards westcentral Bay of Bengal during next 72 hours,” the Cyclone Warning Division of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

M Mohapatra, head of the Cyclone Warning Division, said Kyant was unlikely to make landfall, which means it will not hit the coast. A cyclone making a landfall usually wreaks havoc and causes damage to life and property.

The IMD, however, said coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha will witness rainfall, especially during the Diwali weekend. Kyant is expected to fade into deep depression on October 29.

“Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely to prevail along and off south Odisha on October 27 and along and off Andhra Pradesh coasts from October 27 to 30.

“Light to moderate rainfall at many places over south Odisha, north coastal Andhra Pradesh is very likely on October 27 and 28.

“Heavy rainfall at isolated places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh is very likely on October 28 to 30 and over north coastal Tamilnadu on October 29 to 31,” the IMD said.

Sea condition will be “rough to very rough” along and off south Odisha on October 27. Similar conditions will persist off Andhra Pradesh coasts during October 27 to 30, it said. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea off Andhra Pradesh coasts from October 27 onwards.