In the last few days we have been hearing news about the cyclone Gaja. On Tuesday morning, cyclone Gaja took U turn and headed northwest but again travelled west southwards. It must be noted that initially many thought that this cyclone Gaja was drifting towards south. The news now is city of Chennai would get heavy rains.
According to the statement from IMD or Indian Meteorological Department on Tuesday night, the storm was moving at a speed of 10 kmph lay centred over west-central and adjoining east-central and south Bay of Bengal about 600 km east north-east of Chennai and 720 km north-east of Nagapattinam. During the next 24 hours, the storm is likely to move west-south-westwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm. Then the storm would weaken gradually while moving further towards west- southwards and finally cross Tamil Nadu between Pamban and Cuddalore as a cyclonic storm on 15th of November in the afternoon.
Rainfall would occur in most places and there would be heavy to very heavy rainfall in few places in the state of TN and this included the city of Chennai also. In places such as Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts there would be extreme rainfall in excess of 20cm. This was confirmed by the officials belonging to the meteorological department. It is important to mention that winds might reach a speed of 70-80 km and touch 90 km over west-central and adjoining east-central and south Bay of Bengal. IMD had predicted that gale would gradually sweep at speeds of 90 to 100 kmph and reach 110 kmph over south-west and adjoining west-central and southeast Bay of Bengal from 14th of November.
From the morning of 14th of November, the sea would be rough to very rough along the coast of TN, south AP and Puducherry. It is said that the waves would rise to a height of one metre and inundate or flood low lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts of TN and Karaikal at the time when landfall takes place. In the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram etc there would be severe damage. Till 15th of November the fishermen have been advised not to go into the central and south Bay of Bengal.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department or IMD, coastal hutment dwellers have been advised to move to safer places and other people in the affected areas must remain indoors. Around 17th November, the remainder of the above system after the landfall is likely to emerge as a low pressure area over the south east Arabian sea. The rest of the month of November would be active as there would be series of low pressure forming over Bay of Bengal. This was confirmed by the weather experts.