Amaravati, Nov 30 (LatestNewsX) – The IMD has issued a red alert for Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Chittoor and Tirupati districts in south‑coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rain on Sunday as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah swirls over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and the nearby coasts of North Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.
The bureau also predicts heavy‑to‑very‑heavy showers in one or two spots within Prakasam, Annamayya and YSR Kadapa, and expects heavy rain in isolated locations across Anantapur, Sri Satya Sai, Kurnool, Nandyal, Palnadu, Bapatla and Guntur.
Light to moderate rain, sometimes with thunder, should cover most of south‑coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, and is very likely in many areas of north‑coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.
Gale‑strength winds (60‑70 km/h with gusts up to 80 km/h) are forecast for isolated places on the south coast and Rayalaseema, while squally breezes (40‑50 km/h with gusts to 60 km/h) are expected in patches over north‑coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are anticipated in isolated spots along the coast, in Yanam, and across Rayalaseema.
APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain has urged residents of Prakasam, Nellore and Tirupati to stay alert.
The Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre reported that Cyclonic Storm Ditwah was centered roughly 130 km SSE of Puducherry and 220 km south of Chennai, and that it is likely to drift northward parallel to the North Tamil Nadu‑Puducherry coastline over the next 24 hours. A landfall is unlikely; the system may weaken into a deep depression over water.
Fishermen have been advised by the Visakhapatnam centre to remain ashore until Monday. Port authorities have hoisted cautionary signal 3 at Krishnapatnam, while signal 2 remains in force at Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada.
State Home Minister V. Anitha has directed officials to stay on alert. The Disaster Management Department has deployed three National Disaster Response Force teams to Venkatagiri in Nellore for rescue and relief operations, with an additional three teams kept on standby.
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