Cyclone Nilam may intensify before reaching TN and AP coasts

Cyclone Nilam is expected to cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by 31 October, 2012 afternoon/evening.

The Met department bulletin stated earlier on Tuesday, "The deep depression over the south west Bay of Bengal remained practically stationary and lay centred at 0530 hours on the 30 October, 2012 over the south west Bay of Bengal about 500 km south-south east of Chennai and 100 km east-north east of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka). The system would intensify further into a cyclonic storm and move north westwards for some more time and then move north westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by 31 October, 2012 afternoon/evening."

The Met department expects "damage to thatched huts, trees falling causing minor damage to power and communication lines."

According to met department rainfall is expected to increase from Tuesday evening, with heavy to very heavy rainfall (25 cm or more) in the northern parts of Tamil Nadu and Chennai. The wind speed would gradually increase and may reach 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph as the cyclone comes closer to the coast. This would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 12 hours.