CHENNAI: The developing cyclonic system 'Montha' over the southeast Bay of Bengal is heading steadily towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with early forecasts suggesting that north Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, may escape major impact.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the depression, which formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 27 and further into a severe cyclonic storm by October 28, before crossing the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, with wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph.

Weather models indicate two possible scenarios for Tamil Nadu’s rainfall prospects. One, the system moves away towards Andhra directly from the open seas without nearing the north Tamil Nadu coast, th

See Full Page