Cyclone Montha Becomes Severe Cyclonic Storm
Amaravati: Cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ in the western Bay of Bengal was moving from north to northwest at a speed of 15 km per hour during the last six hours and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm at 5.30 am on Tuesday, the Meteorological Department said.
The weather system was focused 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 270 km south-southeast of Kakinada and 340 km south-southeast of Vizag at 5.30 am.
“Cyclonic storm Montha over the west central Gulf of Bengal moved north-northwestward at a speed of 15 km per hour (and) intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the last six hours, moving towards the south-southeast of Machilipatnam for about 190 km at 5.30 am,” the Met Department said in an official statement.
It is expected to continue moving in a north-northwest direction and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada on Tuesday evening and night as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum wind speed of 90-100 km/hr and gusts up to 110 km/hr.
The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in various parts of the southern state under the influence of Montha.
Montha means fragrant flower in Thai.
