ANDAMAN SEA LOW-PRESSURE TO INTENSIFY INTO DEPRESSION BY DECEMBER 7; ANDHRA, TAMIL NADU IN FOR HEAVY DOWNPOURS

 ANDAMAN SEA LOW-PRESSURE TO INTENSIFY INTO DEPRESSION BY DECEMBER 7; ANDHRA, TAMIL NADU IN FOR HEAVY DOWNPOURS

Sunday

, December 4: Earlier this week, meteorological departments had indicated that a low-pressure disturbance is expected to form in the Andaman Sea in the coming days. Now, newer updates have confirmed that the system will also undergo notable intensification and trigger rough weather conditions across India’s southeastern coast.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a south Andaman Sea-based cyclonic circulation is likely to influence the formation of a low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining south Andaman Sea by Monday, December 5.

Thereafter, the low-pressure is expected to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over southeast BoB by next Wednesday morning (Dec 7).

Its west-northwestward movement will continue even after the intensification, and the system may reach southwest BoB — near north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts — by Thursday morning (Dec 8).

The Weather Channel’s met team adds that the intensity of the system when it closes in on the Indian coast is still highly uncertain. While the ECMWF forecasting model suggests it may do so as a depression, the GFS model has claimed that it may approach as a Cyclonic Storm (a proper cyclone)!

As for its impact, the IMD has forecast widespread light to moderate rains along with isolated heavy falls (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) over Nicobar Islands on Sunday and both Andaman-Nicobar Islands on Monday. Thundersquall (speed reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph) and lightning will also accompany the rains across both islands on Monday.

As the system moves over southwest BoB, enhanced rainfall activity will also commence across north-coastal Tamil Nadu and south-coastal Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday midnight (Dec 7). While the wet conditions will be widespread, isolated parts of both subdivisions will be in for heavy to very heavy downpours (64.5 mm-204 mm) from Thursday (Dec 8).

The system’s presence will also trigger squally winds over the islands and the southeastern coastal states, along with rough sea conditions in the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the fisherfolk have been advised not to venture into the seas in this region while the system's influence persists....