Cyclone Roanu inching along Andhra coast, downpours likely

The cyclonic storm 'Roanu' over west central Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary this morning, lying centred about 80 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, about 290 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam and 160 km south-southwest of Kakinada.

The system is likely to move initially north-northeast along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast today, and thereafter north-eastward. It is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by tonight, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system is likely to cross south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox's Bazaar on the night and early morning of 21-22 May as a cyclonic storm.

Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rain is very likely to occur in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore.

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool districts of Rayalaseema.

Heavy to very heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts of north coastal AP.

The Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC), Visakhapatnam, has issued a warning to fishermen against venturing into the sea along and off the Andhra coast during the next 48 hours. Gales with speed reaching 90 to 100 km/ph gusting at 110 km/ph are very likely to prevail and strong surface winds from a westerly direction with speed reaching 60 to 70 km/ph are also likely along and off south coastal AP.

The state of sea would be high to very high and very rough during the next 24 hours, a spokesperson for the CWC said.

Storm surge of about 0.5 to 1.0 metre is likely along north Andhra Pradesh Coast during the next 24 hours.