Cyclone Montha Highlights: Two-day school holidays declared in Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Montha LIVE: As per the latest update shared by the India Meteoreological Department, cyclonic storm Montha is expected to continue to intensify as it moves along the Indian east coast.

"It is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours. Thereafter it is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of 28th October," said the IMD in its latest update shared at 4 AM IST.

A heavy rain alert has been issued for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu due to the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during the past 6 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Heavy rains are expected in AP due to Cyclone Montha. Due to this, the AP government has declared holidays for educational institutions in several districts. A two-day holiday has been declared from October 27 in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle and West Godavari districts, which were most affected by the cyclone.

As per CM Chandrababu Naidu's orders, the district collector has issued orders declaring holidays for government and private schools, junior and degree colleges in Visakhapatnam district on October 27 and 28. The holidays are likely to be extended later, depending on the circumstances.

As a precautionary measure, the state government has deployed over 5,000 highly skilled personnel in 24 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), five from NDRF and 99 Fire Service teams in these eight districts, the minister said, adding all the districts of the state have been directed to get ready with men and machinery for rescue operations, if at all the impending cyclone changes its trajectory.

The Odisha government on Sunday started evacuating people from vulnerable places and deployed 128 disaster response teams in eight districts. IMD forecasts Cyclone Montha to arrive by the next morning as a deep depression gains strength in the Bay of Bengal.

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is in the process of intensifying into a cyclonic storm, will bring heavy rain in some districts of West Bengal from October 28-31, the IMD said on Sunday.

It advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast from October 28-30, and asked all those already in the waters to return by October 27.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The Odisha government has put all 30 districts on alert as a depression in the Bay of Bengal intensifies into a deep depression and moves slowly toward the east coast, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected across the state on October 28 and 29.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for five districts—Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam—while several others have been placed under orange and yellow alerts.

Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) has been hoisted at all ports, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until October 29.

Authorities have also sounded an alert along the Odisha coast from Ganjam to Balasore, urging people to remain vigilant and avoid going into rough seas.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is in the process of intensifying into a cyclonic storm, will start bringing light to moderate rain to several south Bengal districts from October 27, including Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Howrah, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, and Hooghly, news agency PTI reported, citing IMD forecast.

Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in South Bengal districts such as North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Purulia, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, and Murshidabad between October 28 and 31.

In north Bengal, heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Uttar Dinajpur, and Malda between October 30 and 31.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: Continuing its north-northwestward track, according to IMD, cyclone Montha is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on the evening/night of October 28.

The storm is expected to be a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, the weather department added.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, which moved west-northwest at 8 kmph in the past six hours, was centred at 11.4°N and 86.6°E as of 5:30 pm IST on October 26. It lies about 670 km west of Port Blair, 720 km east-southeast of Chennai, 780 km southeast of Kakinada, 790 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 900 km south-southeast of Gopalpur.

According to the IMD, the system is expected to move west-northwest, intensifying into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal within 12 hours.

It is likely to turn northwest, then north-northwest, strengthening into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: IMD scientist S Jagannath Kumar told news agency ANI, "A severe cyclonic storm is expected to form in the Bay of Bengal and make landfall... The storm is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas, and strong winds... A storm surge of up to 1 meter above the astronomical tide is also expected... Red alerts have been issued for several districts, including Kakinada, Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Nellore."

He further added that fishermen have been advised "not to venture into the sea for the next five days", and district authorities have been warned to prepare for the severe weather conditions.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: Severe Cyclone Montha, with winds of 90–100 kmph and gusts up to 110 kmph, is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on the evening/night of October 28 if it maintains its north-northwestward track, reported news agency ANI.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts of Andhra Pradesh ahead of the severe cyclonic storm forming over the Bay of Bengal.

The system is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas, with strong winds likely along the coastal belt.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert as a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm by October 27 and a Severe Cyclonic Storm by October 28.

According to IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast across several regions in the coming days.

- Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Mahe are likely to see rain on October 27–28, while coastal Karnataka may experience downpours from October 26–28.

- Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam are expected to receive heavy rain from October 26–30.

- Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh from October 27–30.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The severe Cyclone Montha is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Authorities have issued warnings and are preparing relief measures in vulnerable districts as the storm intensifies over the Bay of Bengal.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The Andhra Pradesh government has finalized an action plan to ensure relief and essential supplies ahead of Cyclone Montha, expected to make landfall along the state coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on October 28 evening.

Weather news LIVE: Maharashtra government on Sunday issued warning to all fishermen regarding bad weather and speedy winds for next four days and asked them not to go into the sea as the IMD said a depression has formed over the Arabian Sea.

According to the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) latest update, the depression over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved nearly south-southwestwards lay centered at 11:30 am over the same region on Sunday, October 26 -about 790 km southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra), about 800 km west of Panjim (Goa), 840 km northwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep) and about 960km west-northwest of Mangalore (Karnataka).

It is likely to move initially nearly southwards and then southeastwards across eastcentral Arabian Sea during next 24 hours.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: In a weather alert post on X, IMD said a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 27 and a severe cyclonic storm by October 28.

IMD added that heavy to very heavy rainfall expected over:

Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Mahe: Oct 27–28

Coastal Karnataka: Oct 26–28

Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam: Oct 26–30

Telangana & Odisha: Oct 27–30

Chhattisgarh: Oct 27–30

Cyclone Montha LIVE: In a post on X at around 4 pm on Sunday, the IMD said the deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards with a speed of five kmph during past six hours, and lay centred over the same region at 11:30 am on October 26 - about 620 km west of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), 770 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 820 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 810 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 920 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).

It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards, intensify further into a cyclonicstorm over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours, IMD said.

Thereafter it is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of October 28, IMD added.

It is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Cyclone Montha LIVE updates: What is the meaning of ‘Montha’?

The name “Montha” was submitted by Thailand and is what the next cyclonic storm in the North Indian Ocean will be given as per the roster. It was drawn from a pre-approved list of names used for tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean region.

In Thai the word reportedly means something along the lines of “fragrant flower” or “beautiful flower”.

The region covering the India Meteorological Department (IMD) - i.e., the North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea) - uses a list of names contributed by member countries of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: Andhra Pradesh is on red alert for October 27, 28 and 29 while Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are under a red warning over the the next three days, according to a post on X by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shared at around 2:45 pm on Sunday.

The IMD said parts of these states are expected witness heavy to very heavy rainfall as the deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and its possible intensification into a cyclonic storm - ‘Montha’ - over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 27 and further intensification to severe cyclonic storm by morning of October 28.

Andhra Pradesh has been placed under red alert for October 27, 28, 29, Odisha for October 28 and 29, and Telangana as well as Chhattisgarh for just October 28, as per the IMD post.

In pre-cyclone preparation for Cyclone Montha, the Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action plan for relief and essential supplies.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on October 28 evening.

State Civil Supplies minister N Manohar said the action plan includes stock position of Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities, fuel inventory management, paddy procurement steps, food supply to relief shelters and post-cyclone relief distribution.

"The Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action taken report detailing the pre-cyclone preparedness measures for Cyclone Montha, ensuring readiness before landfall," Manohar said in an official release late on Saturday.

He added that the supply of food grains to all fair price shops in coastal areas will be completed by October 26, and that sufficient stock is already placed at Mandal Level Stock Points.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The possible cyclone, named 'Montha' as per Thailand's suggestion under international convention, has prompted the Greater Chennai Corporation to ready equipment and personnel for any emergencies as it is expected to bring rain for parts of Tamil Nadu and coasts of other adjoining states.

Tamil Nadu chief minister ML Stalin is also reviewing the situation through video conferences with senior officials, including those from the police department, and has advised the civic body to take all necessary steps to ensure public safety, GCC said in a press release, cited in a PTI news agency report.

Light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places is expected over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal until October 28. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated locations in Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu districts, besides neighbouring Puducherry, the IMD said.

Chennai weather forecast

For Chennai and neighbouring districts, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy, with maximum temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius and minimum between 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. One or two spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning are likely over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The weather department has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until October 28, and those already at sea should return by the evening of Saturday.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The Indian Army said on Sunday it has been placed on high alert in view of the developing cyclonic systems over both the East Central Arabian Sea and the South East Bay of Bengal, one of which - the latter - is expected to intensify over the next 48 hours into Cyclone ‘Montha’.

"The situation is being closely monitored in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and respective state governments," ANI news agency quoted Indian Army as saying.

Cyclone Montha LIVE: The deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal is is very likely to intensify and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast - between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, around Kakinada - between 5:30 pm and 11:30 pm on Tuesday, October 28, as a ‘severe cyclonic storm’.