The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as a cyclonic storm, Cyclone Montha, is likely to intensify over the Bay of Bengal. The system, which has already strengthened into a depression, is forecast to intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning, October 27. The cyclone, named Montha by Thailand, is expected to move west-northwestwards toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, with warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall (12–20cm in 24 hours) for key districts like Chennai and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu.
Authorities in both states are on high alert, preparing for potential impacts that include widespread downpours, strong winds (up to 70 kmph), and rough seas. Odisha may also experience heavy rainfall and gusty winds, although the cyclone is currently forecast to primarily affect the Andhra coast. Coastal residents and disaster management teams have been activated, with nine ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry raising warning signals.In response to the escalating threat, fishermen have been strictly advised to avoid deep-sea operations until at least October 29. The threat comes at a critical time for agriculture, as unseasonal heavy rainfall could severely damage harvest-ready paddy crops in states like Odisha, despite earlier optimistic yield forecasts from the near-normal monsoon season.
