The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places over Nilgiris district over the next 24 hours as severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast.
The Tamil Nadu government has put contingency measures in place to prevent disruption to normal life, with the storm bringing heavy downpours across northern parts of the state and Chennai. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in Arakkonam and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) remain deployed across vulnerable parts of Tamil Nadu. Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts were closed on Monday due to the weather, and 11 flights from Chennai to various destinations were canceled.
Chennai received 7.6 cm of rain as of Monday, while 21 subways did not face inundation and opened to traffic, according to IMD. The Greater Chennai Corporation received 237 complaints about water stagnation, 32 about fallen trees, and 133 about streetlights, officials said.
It would further weaken into a deep depression by Tuesday midnight, the weather office said.
Parts of Tamil Nadu, south Odisha and Chhattisgarh were also under a weather alert. Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday and is expected to move northwestward, weakening into a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 80–90 kmph by Tuesday afternoon before further degrading into a deep depression by midnight, according to IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre.
The storm crossed the coastline near Ongole in Prakasam district at around 1am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Earlier reporting noted: Cyclone Murasu makes landfall in Andhra Pradesh, triggers heavy rain; thousands evacuated, coastal areas on alert Severe cyclonic storm Murasu made landfall along the south Andhra Pradesh coast early Tuesday, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region. Track live updates Earlier reporting noted: The IMD had forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at isolated locations. Earlier reporting noted: Telangana was also expected to receive heavy rainfall as the weather system moves inland after crossing the coast.
