Cyclone Montha to make landfall by evening; Andhra, Odisha on high alert

Cyclone Montha is all set to turn into a 'severe' cyclonic storm as it will make landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh by Tuesday evening, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned.

According to a weather bulletin, high waves are expected along the coast from Nellore to Srikakulam.

The cyclonic storm lay about 450 km south to southeast of Kakinada, 420 km east of Chennai, 500 km south to southeast of Visakhapatnam and 670 km south to southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha). The system is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, said a press release from the Met Department.

It is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph (and) gusting up to 110 kmph.

"It is expected to cross the coast of Andhra Pradesh by Tuesday evening or night between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around the Kakinada area. Most districts in Andhra Pradesh will experience extremely heavy rainfall and gusty winds," IMD Hyderabad official GNRS Srinivasa Rao told ANI news agency.

A storm surge of about one metre above astronomical tide is expected to cause inundation in low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam around landfall time, according to the IMD.

In Telangana, an orange alert has been issued in Peddapalli, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, and Mulugu districts, while all other northeast districts have been placed under yellow alert.