Visakhapatnam: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Tirupati and Nellore districts for Friday (Nov 29), as very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected in the two districts, under the influence of the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.
The weather agency said that there would be fairly widespread rains in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions while north coastal AP would receive scattered rains on Friday. Moreover, there is a possibility that the deep depression might marginally intensify into a cyclonic storm with wind speed 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over southwest Bay of Bengal between Thursday night and Friday morning.
S Karunasagar, scientist at IMD-Amaravati, told TOI that as per the red alert forecast, Tirupati and Nellore districts are likely to receive isolated extremely heavy rainfall on Friday.
“Chittoor and Annammayya districts may receive isolated very heavy rainfall as they have been given orange alert. Meanwhile, Prakasam, Sri Sathya Sai and YSR Kadapa districts,put on a yellow alert for Friday, will experience heavy rainfall,” he added.
He said that Tirupati, Nellore and Prakasam districts continue to be under watch as an orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall) has been issued for these for Saturday (Nov 30). A yellow Alert (heavy rainfall) has been given for Chittoor, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya, and Sri Sathya Sai districts for Saturday, he added.
Parts of the Nellore, Annamayya and Prakasam district experienced drizzles on Thursday.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has advised farmers in parts of the south coastal AP and Rayalaseema regions to take necessary measures to keep the crops safe. The officials suggested farmers to keep the harvested paddy and other crops safe as rains are expected across the coastal districts till Dec 1.
Moreover, the IMD mentioned that the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved slowly and lay centred about 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee, 320 km southeast of Nagappattinam, 410 km southeast of Puducherry and 490 km south-southeast of Chennai.
