The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning as a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast is on track to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next few hours.
Movement and Trajectory
The system, seen as a remnant of Cyclone ‘Senyar’, initially showed varied movement:
- Past 6 Hours (Earlier): It moved nearly eastwards at a speed of $18\text{ kmph}$ over the Strait of Malacca region.
- Past 6 Hours (Later): It moved northwestwards at a speed of $17\text{ kmph}$.
As of the latest report, the deep depression was centered approximately:
- $120\text{ km}$ south-southeast of Batticaloa (Sri Lanka)
- $640\text{ km}$ south-southeast of Puducherry (India)
- $730\text{ km}$ south-southeast of Chennai (India)
The IMD forecasts the system will first intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 3 hours. It is then very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards across the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast. Its anticipated path is towards the North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts over the subsequent 48 hours.
Remnant of Cyclone ‘Senyar’
A separate deep depression, which is a remnant of Cyclone ‘Senyar’ over the Strait of Malacca, was centered:
- $200\text{ km}$ south-southwest of George Town (Malaysia)
- $820\text{ km}$ southeast of Nancowry (Nicobar Islands)
This system is expected to move nearly eastwards and weaken further into a depression within the next 6 hours.
Tsunami Alert Issued and Withdrawn
Separately, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) briefly issued a tsunami alert for two areas in the Andaman and Nicobar region following a magnitude $6.3$ earthquake off the Sumatra coast. However, the bulletin was withdrawn shortly thereafter, confirming no threat to the Indian coastline.