As predicted, the Deep Depression that brewed in Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a Cyclonic Storm Ockhi on Thursday noon. This is the season’s first tropical storm that developed in the Indian Sea and lashed the southern tip of the country, mainly Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, claiming four lives in Kanyakumari.
At present, Cyclone Ockhi is over Comorin area and adjoining region and lay centered over South Kerala coast and adjoining areas, about 120 km west-southwest of Kanyakumari and 180 km south-southwest of Thiruvananthapuram.
[yuzo_related]
This cyclone is moving in a west-northwest direction towards Lakshadweep Islands and is likely to gain strength and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. The intensity of rains will, however, start reducing once the weather system will start traveling towards the Arabian Sea, away from Kerala coast.
Click here to get the live lightning and thunderstorm status across Kerala and Tamil Nadu
As per Skymet Weather, in the wake of this, both Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram are expected to record heavy to extremely heavy rains that will continue for at least another 24 hours. Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram had already recorded moderate to heavy rains to the tune of 41 mm and 15 mm of rains in the last 6 hours from 08:30 am to 02:30 pm.
Skymet Weather also warns of rough sea conditions over the south coast of Kerala and hence fishermen are advised to stay cautious and not to venture into the sea. Power failures and communication line damages are also anticipated due to squally winds that are likely to gust at a speed of 45-55 kmph.
Heavy rains have also affected the railway network in both these states. Reportedly 12 trains to and from Kerala and a few in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu were canceled in the wake of torrential flood causing rains.
Image Credit: Anika Mathur
Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com
