Deep Depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm MAHA over Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea & Maldives

Deep Depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm MAHA (Pronounced as M’maha) over Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea & Maldives area: CYCLONE WARNING FOR LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS (ORANGE MESSAGE) Deep Depression over Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and Maldives area moved northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past 6 hours and intensified into Cyclonic Storm MAHA (Pronounced as M’maha) and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 30th October, 2019 near latitude 9.0°N and longitude 74.1°E over Lakshadweep and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea and Maldives area, about 540 km north-northeast of Male (Maldives), 130 km northeast of Minicoy (Lakshadweep), 240 km southeast of Kavaratti (Lakshadweep) and 320 km to the westnorthwest of Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). It is very likely to continue to move northwestwards across Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and then emerge into eastcentral Arabian Sea. It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the forenoon of tomorrow over Lakshadweep area.

Warnings:
 (i) Rainfall:  Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kerala, Lakshadweep, coastal Karnataka and south Tamilnadu during next 2 days. Extremely heavy falls at isolated places are likely over Lakshadweep Islands and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated place over Kerala during next 48 hours. Heavy to very heavy falls at isolated place are also likely over Tamil Nadu on 30th October and over coastal Karnataka on 31st October.

(ii) Wind warning  Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph very likely to prevail over Comorin-Maldives area during next 12 hours and decrease thereafter.  Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph prevails over Lakshadweep area around the system centre. It is very likely to increase becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph by 31st morning and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph in the afternoon over northern parts of Lakshadweep area and 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over southern parts of Lakshadweep area during the afternoon of 31st .  Gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 125 kmph likely to prevail over southeast and adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea from 31st evening and increase to 160-170 Kmph gusting to 190 Kmph over eastcentral & adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea by morning of 4th November.  Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph likely along & off KeralaKarnataka coasts during next 48 hours.

(iii) Sea condition  Sea conditions will be high to very high over Comorin-Maldives area and very rough to high along & off Kerala- Karnataka coasts during next 48 hours.  Sea conditions will be very rough to high over Lakshadweep area on 30th and hogh to vcery high on 31st .  Sea condition will be rough to very rough on 30 th and very high to phenomenal over southeast & adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea on 31st and become phenomenal over eastcentral & adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea by morning of 2 nd November onwards

(iv) Storm Surge Warning  Tidal wave by about 1 meter height above the astronomical tides is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours. (v) Fishermen Warning  Total suspension of fishing operations over Comorin-Maldives & Lakshadweep area and along & off Kerala-Karnataka coasts during next 48 hours.  The fishermen are advised not to venture into southeast Arabian Sea till 31st October and over eastcentral Arabian Sea till 4th November, 2019. (vi) Damage Expected:  Major damage to thatched houses/ huts. Roof tops may blow off. Unattached metal sheets may fly.  Damage to power and communication lines.  Major damage to Kutcha and some damage to Pucca roads. Flooding of escape routes.  Breaking of tree branches, uprooting of trees. Damage to banana and papaya trees. Dead limbs blown from trees.  Major damage to coastal crops.  Damage to embankments/ salt pans.

source; IMD