Chennai, Nov 29 || Cyclonic storm Ditwah, intensifying over the southwest Bay of Bengal, continued its northward movement at a speed of eight kilometres an hour during the past six hours and was positioned about 430 kilometres south of Chennai at 2.30 a.m. on Saturday.
As the system advanced, Chennai and its neighbouring districts woke up to widespread rainfall, with moderate showers reported across several pockets of the city and cloudy skies persisting since early morning.
According to the India Meteorological Department's 7.30 a.m. bulletin, Ditwah is expected to continue moving north-northwestwards across coastal Sri Lanka and re-emerge over the southwest Bay of Bengal, heading towards the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the early hours of November 30.
The system is forecast to intensify further as it approaches the coastline, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and turbulent sea conditions.
In view of the worsening weather, a red alert has been issued for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts, along with Puducherry.