The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Amaravati has issued urgent warnings across Andhra Pradesh. What began as a well-marked low-pressure area in the southeast Bay of Bengal quickly intensified into a depression by Saturday morning at 5:30 AM. This developing system, now officially named Cyclonic Storm ‘Montha,’ is expected to hit the central districts of Andhra Pradesh the hardest.
Forecasters predict ‘Montha’ will escalate further. It’s expected to become a deep depression by October 26th, transforming into a full-fledged cyclonic storm over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning, October 27th. By October 28th, it’s projected to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm.
The IMD has indicated that the severe cyclonic storm is highly likely to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, specifically between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, on the evening of October 28th. During landfall, ‘Montha’ is expected to bring maximum sustained wind speeds of 90-100 kmph, with gusts potentially reaching up to 110 kmph.
Consequently, the IMD has issued severe warnings. Red alerts are in effect for six districts on Monday, October 27th, expanding to twelve districts for Tuesday, October 28th, and Wednesday, October 29th. The districts under a Red Alert for severe conditions include Bapatla, Prakasam, SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya, and YSR Kadapa. Additionally, Orange Alerts, signifying high preparedness, have been issued for Krishna, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Guntur, Palnadu, Nandyal, and Chittoor for Monday.
For Tuesday and Wednesday, an expanded list of twelve districts is under Red Alert, expecting extremely heavy rainfall: YSR Kadapa, Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla, Guntur, NTR, Krishna, West Godavari, Eluru, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and Kakinada.
Orange alerts will also be in effect for Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, SPSR Nellore, Tirupati, and Nandyal districts on both Tuesday and Wednesday. All other districts in the state have been issued yellow alerts, advising caution.
Beyond rainfall, severe weather is anticipated. Thunderstorms with lightning are probable across the entire state on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, isolated areas may experience squally winds of 60-70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph. This is expected to intensify on Wednesday, bringing gale-force winds of 90-100 kmph to isolated locations along North and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
While no explicit alerts have been issued for Sunday, October 26th, or Thursday, October 30th, residents should still expect heavy rainfall in several parts of the state on these days.