Chennai: The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal today moved north-northwestwards and lay centered about 700 km east southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 960 km east-southeast of Chennai and 1,130 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
Met office sources said it is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and into a severe cyclonic storm in the subsequent 36 hours.
Once it becomes a cyclone, it would be named ‘Phethai’, a name given by Thailand.
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada on the afternoon of 17 December.
Under its influence, rainfall would occur at many places with heavy rain at a few places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas of north coastal Tamilnadu from tomorrow evening.
Rainfall would also occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rain (in excess of 20 cm) at some places over coastal Andhra Pradesh on Sunday and Monday.
Squally wind, reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, was likely along and off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts from tomorrow evening.
“It is very likely to increase gradually becoming gale wind speed of 80-90 kmph along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from the forenoon of 17 December,” the Met office said.
It also said squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would prevail over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.
It is very likely to increase gradually and become gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph by 14 December evening and 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph 15-16 December over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and 80-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph over west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal Sunday and Monday.
The sea condition would be very rough over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to become high from this evening.
The sea condition was very likely to be high over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal 15 December and high to very high over west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal for two days from Saturday.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea in southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal today, into southwest and adjoining west-central bay tomorrow and west-central and adjoining southwest bay Sunday and Monday.
Those, who were out in the deep seas have been advised to return to the coast.