Severe Cyclone Murasu Skirts Chennai, Eyes Andhra Coast

Severe cyclonic storm Murasu, located over the Bay of Bengal, is currently skirting the coast of Chennai, approximately 200 km offshore. The storm is intensifying and is on a direct path for landfall along the South Andhra coast, with the predicted zone between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole.

Landfall is expected late Monday night or by early Tuesday morning. The India Meteorological Department anticipates Murasu to make landfall as a severe cyclone, bringing sustained winds of 100-110 km/hr and gusts reaching up to 120 km/hr. This poses a significant threat to coastal areas.

Coastal ports in South Andhra Pradesh are on high alert. Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports are under Great Danger Signal Number 10, indicating an exceptionally severe threat. Other ports like Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam, and Visakhapatnam are also under various warning signals, preparing for the storm's impact.

The storm surge is expected to inundate low-lying coastal areas of South Andhra Pradesh, with waves of 3.2-5 feet above astronomical tide predicted. High waves of 10-16 feet are also forecast for the East Godavari coast. Consequently, fishing operations have been suspended, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until Wednesday.