Cyclone Burevi weakens, to cross TN as deep depression: IMD

Chennai

The IMD had earlier predicted that Burevi, which crossed the Sri Lanka coast on Wednesday night, would hit the Tamil Nadu coast as a cyclonic storm.

“Cyclonic storm Burevi over Gulf of Mannar weakened into a deep depression on December 3 and is close to Ramanathapuram district coast, about 20 km southwest of Pamban and 210 km east-northeast of Kanyakumari,” the Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said on Wednesday evening. The associated wind speed is about 55-65 kmph, gusting up to 75 kmph, it added. The deep depression would move west-southwestwards and cross Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts between Thursday night and Friday early morning with a wind speed of 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph. It is also very likely to further weaken into a depression (with a wind speed of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph) by Friday. The IMD has already issued a red alert for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala.

The RMC forecast heavy rain for coastal districts, including, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Dindigul, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Virudhunagar, Erode and Kancheepuram are likely to receive heavy rainfall. Due to Burevi’s effect, a few places already received showers with Nagapattinam recording a maximum of 20cm, while Tiruvarur, Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur recorded more than 10 cm of rainfall.

Meanwhile, Chennai recorded at least 7 cm of rainfall and is expected to get moderate rainfall in the next 48 hours.