The low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on Saturday and is on track to intensify into Cyclone ‘Montha’ by October 27. The storm is likely to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather agency, in its latest bulletin, said that the system, currently centred around 990 km east-southeast of Chennai, is moving west-northwestwards and is likely to intensify into a deep depression by Sunday.
It is then forecast to become a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by early Monday morning. Once formed, Cyclone Montha, a name given by Thailand, meaning “beautiful
flowers”, is projected to move northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with a possible landfall between Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam early next week.
In the latest update on the weather system in a post on X, the IMD said the depression over southeast Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards with a speed of seven kmph during past six hours and at11:30 am lay centred over the same region, about 460 km west-southwest of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), 950 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 960 km southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 970 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 1030 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).
IMD Weather Alert:
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over several southern and eastern states in the coming days.
States affected: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Odisha, Saurashtra & Chhattisgarh.
Dates: Oct 26–30, 2025
🌧️ Extremely… pic.twitter.com/pA06u8Pvrs
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2025
An orange alert has been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet, with these districts expected to receive very heavy rainfall on October 27. Over the past 24 hours, scattered rainfall was recorded across Tamil Nadu, with Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts receiving the highest rainfall amounts.
The IMD has also warned of heavy rain, strong winds, and rough sea conditions along the Andhra Pradesh coast during the period of landfall. As a precautionary measure, storm warning cage No. 1 has been hoisted at nine ports in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, signalling that squally weather may affect coastal waters.
With the IMD’s orange alert in place, local authorities are bracing for possible disruptions, including waterlogging, traffic snarls, and power cuts in low-lying areas. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and coastal residents have been urged to stay alert as the system intensifies.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to be alert to the likely impact of Cyclone Montha. In a teleconference with the district Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other senior officials on cyclone preparedness on Saturday, Naidu said that officials concerned should be proactive in mitigating the impact of the cyclone. He also instructed the Collectors to prepare special action plan for cyclone relief and to stay fully equipped with necessary resources.
People residing in the coastal areas should be cautioned about the cyclone and evacuated to safety, and holidays declared to the educational institutions, if necessary, he said.
Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government has mobilised 24,149 officials for relief, readied over 1,400 motor pumps and 103 boats, and opened more than 215 relief camps and 106 community kitchens in anticipation of flooding. Fisherfolk have been strongly advised to avoid the sea till at least October 28, and those already at sea are urged to return immediately.
(With inputs from agencies)
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