Cyclone Laila to hit Andhra coast Thursday morning

CHENNAI - The cyclonic storm Laila over the Bay of Bengal would cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada Thursday morning and bring rain to the coastal areas of the state and northern Tamil Nadu, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said here Wednesday.

The cyclone lay centered about 150 km east-northeast of Chennai and 300 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam and 500 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam both in Andhra Pradesh.

According to an IMD official, Laila will move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada, close to Machilipatnam Thursday morning.

Widespread rainfall has been forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 36 hours and in north Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours.

Gale force winds with maximum speeds reaching 115-125 km per hour are likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast at the time of landfall.

Squally winds with speeds reaching 50-60 km per hour are likely along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during the next 24 hours starting Wednesday.

Fishermen in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have been warned not to venture out into the sea for next 24-36 hours starting Wednesday.

The weather department has also warned of storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres in sea waves which would inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna, West and East Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh when the cyclone crosses the land line.

Weather department officials have also issued warnings to Orissa and West Bengal as the cyclone is likely to move northeastwards after landfall across the two states.

Fishermen have been advised to be cautious while going out into sea off the coasts in these two eastern states.