Cyclone Montha intensifies into severe storm; Andhra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu brace for landfall

The weather bureau has warned of rough to high sea conditions and urged fishermen to stay ashore.

Cyclone Montha intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal early Tuesday, unleashing heavy rains, strong winds, and turbulent seas across parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Telangana.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), severe cyclonic storm Montha has been moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 12 kmph over the past six hours.

At 11:30 am (IST), the system was centred about 120 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 200 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 290 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 410 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).

The cyclonic storm Montha over the west-central Bay of Bengal has intensified and is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on Tuesday evening or night, according to the IMD.

The system is likely to cross the coast as a severe cyclonic storm, packing wind speeds of 90–100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph, the weather bureau has noted.

The weather bureau has warned of rough to high sea conditions and urged fishermen to stay ashore.

The cyclone’s name, Montha, meaning “fragrant flower” in Thai, was contributed by Thailand under the World Meteorological Organisation’s naming protocol.

Andhra Pradesh: High sea waves, rough ocean conditions forecast; storm surge warning issued

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said the impact of Cyclone Montha will be “intense” from Tuesday morning, with 3,778 villages across 338 mandals expected to receive heavy rainfall. He has directed the administration to issue real-time alerts to residents in vulnerable areas and ensure timely evacuations.

Following his instructions, real-time voice alerts and public announcements were disseminated across 26 districts, while 3,174 rehabilitation centres have been set up in 22 districts, equipped with food, water, and essential supplies. These centres are being supervised by 3,778 village and ward secretaries.

The highest number of shelters have been established in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district (650), followed by Bapatla (481) and East Godavari (376).

According to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain, heavy rainfall has already begun lashing Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Nellore, Konaseema, and Kakinada districts.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued alerts for high sea waves up to 4.7 metres along the Andhra coast, advising caution for harbour and marine operations.

An ocean current alert has also been issued for East Godavari and Nellore, warning that surface currents could reach 1.2 metres per second between 7 am and 7 pm on Tuesday. Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough along and off the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, worsening to very high from Tuesday evening until early Wednesday, the INCOIS has said.

Danger signals have been hoisted at major ports: DS-VII at Kakinada, DS-VI at Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram, and DS-V at Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam, and Krishnapatnam.

A storm surge warning of about one metre above astronomical tide has also been issued, with the possibility of inundation in low-lying coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during landfall.

Odisha: Coastal districts on red alert

In Odisha, over 11,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying and landslide-prone areas across eight southern districts, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state aims for “zero casualty” preparedness, with 153 rescue teams (including five NDRF units, 30 ODRAF teams, and 123 Fire Service units) on standby.

Schools and anganwadi centres will remain closed till October 30 in nine districts, while beaches have been sealed off. The IMD issued a red warning for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm, and an orange alert for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Nayagarh.

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged people to “stay alert, not afraid,” saying Odisha has “successfully faced many storms before.”

Tamil Nadu: Coastal districts see heavy rains, Ports on alert; schools closed

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai issued Local Warning Signal No. 4 for Chennai, Ennore, and Kattupalli ports. Distant warnings were hoisted for Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

Heavy rains lashed Tiruvallur district, with Ponneri (72 mm) and Avadi (62 mm) recording significant rainfall in 24 hours. The district collector declared a school holiday on Tuesday.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin visited the Chennai Command and Control Centre to assess flooding and traffic management. Fishermen have been barred from venturing into the sea till October 29, with wind speeds likely to reach 100–110 kmph.

West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Telangana brace for Post landfall impact

The IMD has forecast heavy rain in southern West Bengal districts such as North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Birbhum, and Murshidabad, till October 31.

Northern districts -- Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar -- are likely to see very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) on Friday.

In Jharkhand, heavy rain is expected in Simdega, West Singhbhum, Khunti, and Gumla on Tuesday, followed by very heavy rain in Chatra, Garhwa, Latehar, and Palamu on Wednesday.

In Telangana, an orange alert is in place for Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu, while several other districts remain under yellow alert.

As per IMD projections, the severe cyclonic storm will cross the Andhra coast near Kakinada on the night of October 28, then move north-northwestwards into Telangana, weakening into a depression by Thursday.