- Cyclone Ditwah nears Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with extremely heavy rain forecast but no landfall expected
- The cyclone will likely weaken and move northwards parallel to the coast without landfall
- Red alert issued for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh due to heavy rainfall risk
Cyclone Ditwah has triggered rain in several araes of Tamil Nadu as it is expected to move parallel to the coastline of the northern parts of the state and Puducherry in the next 24 hours.
The cyclone is not expected to make landfall. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated places in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
A red alert is already in place in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh.
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Weather Agency's Latest Update
Cyclone Ditwah is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts during next 24 hours. While moving northwards the cyclonic storm will be centered over southwest Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance of 60 km and 30 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline by afternoon and evening today.
Heavy Rainfall Warning For Several Districts
The weather body has forecast extremely heavy rain in a few places in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayilduthurai, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu, besides Puducherry and Karaikal.
Heavy rain is also expected in Chennai, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Trichy, Salem, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet districts of Tamil Nadu.
Read | Sri Lanka Declares Emergency As Cyclone Ditwah Death Count Hits 132
Potential Damage
Authorities expect damage to thatched houses, power and communication lines, and treefalls due to the cyclone. It may also lead to flooding of farmlands and low-lying areas.
