Tropical cyclone to target areas from Chennai to Visakhapatnam this weekend

By Eric Leister , AccuWeather meteorologist

December 6,2016, 4:22:17PM,EST

 

 

A recently developed tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal will strengthen as it tracks westward toward India this week.
Once the depression strengthens into a cyclonic storm, it will be given the name Vardah.
The cyclone is expected to approach eastern India this weekend with the greatest impacts likely on Sunday and Monday.

“There remains uncertainty in the track of the storm, so residents from Chennai to Brahmapur should continue to monitor the situation,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
The Andaman and Nicobar islands will face the brunt of the new cyclone’s impacts through Friday as flooding downpours and strong winds batter the islands.
Wind gusts over 80 km/h (50 mph) are possible in the squally weather along with rainfall totals over 150 mm (6 inches). Localized rainfall amounts of over 250 mm (10 inches) are possible.
Flash flooding, mudslides and power outages are all possible across the islands.
Dangerous conditions are expected for shipping interests across the Bay of Bengal this week.
The main threat will then shift to India as the outer rain bands could reach the coastline as early as Saturday night.
Conditions are expected to worsen from Sunday into Monday as the cyclone approaches and makes landfall along the east cost of India.
Locations such as Chennai, Nellore, Ongole, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam could all endure significant impacts from this cyclone.
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The cyclone is expected to strengthen as it approaches India and could bring wind gusts over 130 km/h (81 mph) to areas near the landfall point.
Even locations up to 100 km (62 miles) from the center of the storm could receive damaging winds. These winds could result in widespread power outages and some structural damage.
Along with the threat for damaging winds, flooding rain will threaten parts of Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.
The exact track of the cyclone will determine what areas are most affected; however, the potential exists for rainfall in excess of 200 mm (8 inches) in the hardest-hit areas.
Flooding and mudslides are possible along with widespread travel delays.
While the cyclone will pose serious threats, rainfall is needed across northern Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and coast Odisha.
These areas have received less than 50 percent of their normal precipitation since September.