The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for Chennai, forecasting heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms and lightning over the next 24 hours as Cyclonic Storm ‘Montha’ intensifies and moves closer to the coast.
Cyclone Montha Intensification and Landfall
The cyclonic storm ‘Montha’ is on a path to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of Tuesday, October 28.
- Movement: The storm is currently moving northwestwards over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. It will then shift north-northwestwards.
- Landfall: The IMD forecasts that ‘Montha’ is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Kakinada, during the evening/night of October 28.
- Wind Speed: At the time of landfall, it is expected to be a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of $\text{90-100 kmph}$, gusting up to $\text{110 kmph}$.
As a result of the impending severe storm, the IMD has issued a Red Alert for several districts in Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada, Kona Seema, Eluru, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Baptala, Prakasam, and SPSR Nellor.
Chennai Rain Forecast
The storm’s proximity means Chennai and several adjacent districts are bracing for significant rainfall beginning on Monday. B Amudha, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, confirmed that heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in:
- Chennai
- Ranipet
- Tiruvallur
- Kancheepuram
Additionally, heavy rainfall is expected in Villupuram and Chengalpattu.
Chennai Weekly Weather Outlook
| Date | Maximum / Minimum Temp. | Humidity | Weather Forecast | Warning |
| 27 October | $\text{30°C / 25°C}$ | $\text{80%}$ | Generally cloudy with heavy rain and thunderstorms/lightning. | Yellow Alert |
| 28 October | $\text{29°C / 24°C}$ | $\text{78%}$ | Generally cloudy with heavy rainfall and thunderstorm. | Yellow Alert |
| 29 October | $\text{30°C / 24°C}$ | $\text{75%}$ | Partly cloudy with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. | No Warning |
| 30 October | $\text{32°C / 25°C}$ | $\text{70%}$ | Generally cloudy with light rain. | No Warning |
| 31 October | $\text{33°C / 26°C}$ | $\text{68%}$ | Partly cloudy with a chance of rain and thunderstorm. | No Warning |
| 1 November | $\text{33°C / 27°C}$ | $\text{70%}$ | Generally cloudy with light rain. | No Warning |