Cyclone Montha Forms Over Bay of Bengal, IMD Warns of Intensification

Cyclone Montha Strengthens Over the Bay of Bengal
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially announced the formation of Cyclone Montha over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. According to the IMD’s early Monday morning bulletin, the system is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, October 28.

Current Position and Movement
As of 2:30 a.m. IST, the depression was centered approximately 600 km east-southeast of Chennai, 680 km south-southeast of Kakinada, and 710 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam. The system is moving west-northwestwards at around 16 km/h, and forecasts indicate it will recurve northwestwards before strengthening further into a very severe cyclonic storm by the early hours of October 28.

Expected Landfall and Wind Speed
Meteorologists predict that Cyclone Montha will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, on the evening or night of October 28. Wind speeds are expected to reach 90 to 100 km/h, with gusts up to 110 km/h, posing a serious threat to coastal infrastructure and marine activity.

IMD Issues Multi-Level Warnings
The IMD has issued red, orange, and yellow alerts across districts in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, highlighting the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with some regions expected to record over 20 cm of rain. The IMD has urged local authorities to remain on high alert and implement early evacuation measures where required.

Safety Advisory for Fishermen and Residents
Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea, as the weather conditions are expected to worsen rapidly. Ports along the eastern coast have raised cautionary signals, and disaster response teams are being kept on standby. The IMD has urged residents in vulnerable coastal regions to stay tuned to official weather updates and follow government advisories to ensure safety.

Cyclone Montha’s trajectory and intensification are being closely monitored, with the IMD expected to issue more detailed updates in the next 12 hours.