Amaravati, Oct 27 || Cyclone Montha in the Bay of Bengal is racing towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone before making landfall near Kakinada on Tuesday night, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority officials said on Monday.
The coastal districts are on high alert in view of the forecast of heavy to very heavy rains and strong gales with a speed of 110 kmph.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) said on Monday morning that the deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm.
The cyclone moved at a speed of 15 kmph during the last six hours. It is currently centred 560 km from Chennai, 620 km from Kakinada, and 650 km from Visakhapatnam, said APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain
As the cyclone approaches the coast, its impact is likely to intensify. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) estimates that it may intensify into a severe cyclone by Tuesday morning and cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday night.