'Hudhud' to make landfall in AP near Vizag on Oct 12

Hyderabad, Oct 10: Cyclone Hudhud would cross North Andhra Pradesh coast on October 12 and is expected to make landfall close to Visakhapatnam, according to Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) at Visakhapatnam.

"It is forecast that Hudhud, which is already a severe cyclonic storm, will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in next 12 hours. Hudhud is likely to make landfall on October 12 close to Visakhapatnam," IMD's (Hyderabad centre) assistant meteorologist M Narasimha Rao said today.

The severe cyclonic storm Hudhud over west central Bay and adjoining east central Bay moved north westwards and lay centred at 0230 hrs today at about 610 kms southeast of Visakhapatnam and 630 kms south-south east of Gopalpur in Odisha, the CWC said.

The system would continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and cross North Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 12.

Under the influence of the system, rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls would occur over East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh from tomorrow evening onwards, according to CWC forecast.

Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over remaining districts of Andhra Pradesh. Squally winds speed reaching 50 to 60 kmph gusting up to 70 kmph would commence along and off north coastal Andhra Pradesh from tomorrow morning onwards.

The wind speed would increase to 130-140 kmph, gusting to 155 kmph from October 12 morning. Sea condition would be rough to very rough from tomorrow morning. It would gradually become phenomenal from October 12 morning onwards along and off North Andhra Coast.

Storm surge of about 1 to 2 metres above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts at the time of landfall. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea while those out at sea are advised to return to shore, the CWC said.

PTI