Cyclone Akvan is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast around November 20, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall and winds of up to 145 kmph to several coastal districts, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to become a cyclonic storm over the central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on November 16 and intensify further on November 17. It is then forecast to move north-westwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast over the following two days.
The IMD has not yet specified the likely landfall location. The system is currently positioned over the south-eastern and adjoining south-western Bay of Bengal, about 960 km east-southeast of Chennai and 960 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is also about 620 km east-northeast of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, 680 km west-southwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and 1,070 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.
IMD scientist Dr S. Karunasagar said the system could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to several parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and some areas of Rayalaseema as it moves towards the coast around November 19. Wind speeds could reach 90–100 kmph, with squally winds of up to 110 kmph in parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh. In other areas, wind speeds could reach 120–145 kmph.
The forecast period covers a wide stretch of the state’s coast and adjoining districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna and Bapatla districts on November 19 and 20.
Parts of Nellore, Tirupati and Chittoor districts are also likely to receive heavy rainfall during the same period. The system may bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to coastal Andhra Pradesh for two to three days, while some areas of Rayalaseema could receive heavy rainfall.
The projected wind conditions could cause further damage to standing crops, according to the report. The system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Visakhapatnam and Bapatla around November 20, although the IMD’s precise landfall forecast remains pending.
