Cyclone Vardah
Cyclone Vardah has already wreaked havoc in the remote islands of Andaman like Diglipur, Rangat and Billyground that witnessed a flood-like situation due to torrential rains. [Representational Image]India Meteorological Deparment

Heavy rains are expected as Cyclone Vardah is expected to make a landfall near Chennai between the South Andhra coast and North Tamil Nadu coast by noon on Monday.

Though the cyclone was expected to make a landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam earlier, according to the Meteorological Department (MeT), the weather system has now intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm that is expected to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Chennai and Ongole on December 12 evening.

''The cyclone is at present situated 480km east-north-east off Chennai coast. It is likely to move south westward over the Bay of Bengal and cross north Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coast, mostly near Chennai, on Monday evening," a regional meteorological centre official told the Times of India.

Located 710 km east-southeast of Nellore and 660 km east of Chennai, the cyclone is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Chennai and Ongole on Monday evening.

"The system has become stronger and is moving at a speed of 18 km per hour. It may further pick up pace or become slow and may even make a landfall tomorrow. We are monitoring the system. But, it will weaken before making the landfall," an official said.

Fishermen in north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coast have been advised not to venture into the sea. Chennai only received 88cm of rain this year as compared to its annual rainfall of 140cm. However, last year, during the month of November, the city recorded a whopping 1218.6 mm of rain, which is three times its monthly rainfall. The normal rainfall figures for November stand at 407.4 mm. On December 1, in just a span of 12 hours, Chennai has received a record-breaking 272 mm of rainfall. 

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