Is Cyclone Montha Threatening Kakinada Port?
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Visakhapatnam, Oct 28 (NationPress) As the ferocious cyclone 'Montha' approaches the Andhra Pradesh coastline, authorities have elevated the warning to danger signal number seven at Kakinada port.
The Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, has also issued danger signal number six for Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports.
Meanwhile, danger signal number five is in effect at Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam, and Krishnapatnam ports.
Informatory alerts have been dispatched to Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, and Vadarevu ports.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm Montha has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm, moving north-northwestward at a speed of 15 kmph over the past six hours. It was located at 0530 hrs IST today, approximately 190 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 270 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 340 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 550 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).
The IMD states that it is expected to continue its trajectory north-northwestward and is likely to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada this evening/night, packing maximum sustained winds of 90-100 kmph, with gusts reaching 110 kmph.
A red alert has been issued for coastal Andhra Pradesh. The bulletin indicates that heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy downpours, is anticipated in select areas including Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada-Yanam, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, and Prakasam districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.
Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecasted for several areas over Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa, and Nandyal districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued high wave alerts for coastal districts, predicting wave heights of 3 - 4.7 meters. Small vessels are advised to stay away from the shore, and recreational activities should be suspended due to the cyclone's impact, which may cause erosion and wave surges.