Cyclone Vardah to make landfall between Chennai and Visakhapatnam on Monday
Cyclonic Storm Vardah is forecast to make landfall between Chennai and Visakhapatnam to start the new week.
After becoming a cyclonic storm on Thursday morning, local time, Vardah will intensify into a severe storm over the Bay of Bengal by this weekend.
Rain, wind and seas will increase around Vardah’s center, creating dangerous conditions for shipping interests.
“Impacts to India will start during the early morning hours of Sunday as the outermost rain bands reach the coastline,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister said.
Conditions will then worsen on Sunday into Monday as the cyclone makes landfall.
“Some weakening is possible just before landfall, which will spare the area from the worst conditions that Vardah will produce at its peak intensity,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said.
Vardah will still be accompanied by heavy rain, damaging winds and an inundating surf at landfall. The exact track of the cyclone will determine which areas are most affected.
The potential exists for rainfall in excess of 200 mm (8 inches) in the hardest-hit areas. In addition to flooding and travel disruptions, mudslides could unfold in the higher terrain.
Wind gusts of 65-80 km/h (40-50 mph) may cause localized tree damage and sporadic power outages. The strong winds could batter coastal areas up to 160 km (100 miles) from its center.
<b>RELATED:</b><br><em><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/in/india-weather">India Weather Center</a><br><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/indian">Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Center</a><br><a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/in/national/satellite">Interactive India weather satellite</a></em>
Widespread power outages may result closer to landfall, where gusts could reach 80-110 km/h (50-70 mph).
“Damaging wind gusts near the point of landfall should remain close to the coast in southern Andhra Pradesh,” Douty said. “Flooding rain, however, could extend well inland, potentially into western Andhra Pradesh.”
The current track of the cyclone keeps the worst conditions north of Chennai.
“While landfall is expected to be to the north of Chennai, Vardah should still pass close enough to bring impacts,” Douty said.
Despite the threats the cyclone poses, Leister said Vardah's rain will ease the mounting rainfall deficits across the area.
“These areas have received less than 50 percent of their normal precipitation since September,” Leister said.
Port Blair on South Andaman Island has been inundated with more than 380 mm (15 inches) of rain since Monday. A total of 212 mm (8.35 inches) fell alone in the 24 hours ending on Thursday morning.
Flooding developed in some low-lying areas of Port Blair, according to The Indian Express. Trees were uprooted and power was disrupted.
About 1,400 tourists also became stranded on the nearby islands of Neil and Havelock. Vessels and choppers normally used to shuttle tourists between the islands and Port Blair ceased operations on Monday due to the adverse weather.
Indian naval ships are expected to reach the tourists on Friday, The Times of India stated.
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