Cyclonic Storm 'LAILA' lay centered 570 km East-Southeast of Chennai

The deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas moved westwards, intensified into a Cyclonic Storm 'LAILA' and lay centered at 0300 UTC of today, the 18 th May 2010 over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal near Latitude 12.00N and 85.50E, about 570 km east-southeast of Chennai, 690 km southeast of Visakhapatnam and 1250 km south-southwest of Kolkata.

The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly direction towards Andhra Pradesh coast.

Under the influence of this system, coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, are likely to experience fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls from 19th May 2010. Gale force wind with speed reaching 65-75 kmph likely to commence along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from today, the 18th night.

Sea condition will be high to very high along and off Andhra Pradesh coast from today the 18th night. Fishermen are advised not venture into the open sea.

The system is likely to intensify further and move in a West-Northwesterly direction for some more time and then move in a NorthWesterly to Northerly direction during next 72 hours towards Andhra Pradesh coast clsoe to Machhalipatinam.

Source : India Meteorological Department

Keywords