Chennai on orange alert as Cyclone Montha intensifies; from traffic snarls to power cuts – what you need to know

Marina beach (file photo)

As Cyclone Montha churns towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, Chennai and its neighbouring districts are on high alert, facing the threat of intense rainfall, gusty winds and potential disruption.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the city, signalling that residents must prepare for severe weather conditions throughout Tuesday.

According to reports, the cyclonic storm is currently positioned approximately 350 kilometres east-northeast of Chennai. After tracking northwest for several hours, it has shifted to a north-northwesterly course. The storm’s structure remains sheared, with its most potent cloud cover and rainfall situated to the west, a clear indication that Tamil Nadu’s coastline is already experiencing its initial effects.

Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, Dr B Amudha, provided a detailed forecast, stating that the system was likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the following morning.

Dr Amudha said it was expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, around Kakinada, towards the evening or early night of October 28. According to her forecast, it was likely to make landfall as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90 kmph to 100 kmph.

Anticipated disruptions across Chennai

Traffic congestion is expected on major thoroughfares, including the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), Velachery Main Road and the GST Road, where waterlogging is common during heavy downpours. Key subways like Madley and Duraisamy may face temporary closures if flooding occurs. Motorists are advised to check live traffic updates and avoid low-lying routes.

Residents are bracing for familiar challenges, with power cuts likely in low-lying and coastal areas. Officials from TANGEDCO indicated that neighbourhoods such as Velachery, Pallikaranai, Adyar and Perungudi could experience temporary electricity suspensions as a precaution against waterlogging and electrical hazards. Citizens have been urged to charge essential devices and keep power banks ready.

Precautionary measures and warnings

In response to the impending severe weather, authorities have taken decisive action. Chennai District Collector Rashmi Siddharth Zagade announced a holiday for all schools in the district on Tuesday as a precautionary measure to ensure student safety. This directive was also extended to schools in the neighbouring Tiruvallur district.

The IMD has issued stringent warnings to fishermen, advising them not to venture into the southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, along and off the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 28. Similar advisories are in place for those near the Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Odisha coasts until October 29.

The IMD’s seven-day forecast suggests that the current spell of rain across north coastal Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, will persist for the next 6-9 hours before gradually reducing as the cyclone moves further northward. The weather is predicted to remain generally cloudy with light rain until October 31, easing to partly cloudy conditions by November 1.