Cyclonic Vardah intensifies, to hit Andhra Pradesh coast on Dec 12; CM Chandrababu Naidu chairs meet

Hyderabad: Cyclonic storm Vardah which was in southeast Bay of Bengal has further intensified and is 880 kms southeast of Nellore, Meteorological department said on Saturday

According to IMD, the cyclonic storm over southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm Friday midnight.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today chaired a review meeting in wake of Cyclone Vardah.

Squally winds and rough to very rough sea conditions expected along and off Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts from December 11 night onwards.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

It moved westnorthwestwards during past 24 hours with a speed of 7 kmph and lay centred at

0830 hrs IST of today over southeast Bay of Bengal near Latitude 12.7ºN and Longitude 88.0ºE, about 880 km east-southeast of Nellore and 830 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam.

The system is very likely to move westnorthwestwards and further intensify slightly during next 24 hours.

It is very likely to maintain its peak intensity upto evening of 11th December 2016.

Thereafter, it is likely to weaken gradually while moving towards Andhra Pradesh coast.

It is very likely to cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam around afternoon/evening of 12th December 2016.