Cyclonic storm Ditwah, which developed from a deep depression near the Sri Lankan coast, has begun moving toward the northern parts of Tamil Nadu, as well as, the coasts of Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh, according to Regional Meteorological Centre Director B Amudha. The system is expected to bring intense winds, heavy rainfall and rough sea conditions over the coming days.
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, reviewed preparations and ongoing mitigation efforts as the storm advances. Amudha stated that Ditwah is being monitored as a cyclonic storm and current forecasts do not categorise it as a severe cyclone.
The RMC has issued a red alert for the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai for November 29 and 30, signalling the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding twenty centimetres in twenty four hours. An orange alert, indicating very heavy rain between eleven and twenty centimetres, has been announced for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and Chengalpattu.
The name Ditwah was proposed by Yemen and is believed to reference the Detwah Lagoon, a large saline water body on the northwestern coast of Socotra Island.
Amudha noted that winds near the storm’s centre could reach sixty to eighty kilometres per hour with gusts touching ninety kilometres per hour, while the outer bands may experience winds between thirty five and forty five kilometres per hour. She added that similar squally conditions are expected across parts of the Arabian Sea near Kerala, Lakshadweep and the Maldives.
Fishermen have been strongly advised to avoid the south, central, southwest and southeast regions of the Bay of Bengal for the next five days, especially those who are already out in deep seas.
In the twenty four hour period before the briefing, light and scattered rainfall was observed in Tamil Nadu, including around three centimetres in Thangachimadam. Puducherry and Karaikal remained mostly dry during the same period.
Reviewing the northeast monsoon, Amudha explained that Tamil Nadu has recorded around thirty five centimetres of rainfall since October one, slightly above the seasonal norm of thirty four centimetres. However, Chennai continues to remain about thirty one per cent below its usual seasonal rainfall and widespread showers from the storm could help reduce the deficit.
She added that the risk of landslides can be assessed more accurately once there is greater clarity on the storm’s path and speed.
Following the RMC warning of very heavy rainfall in select districts on November twenty nine and thirty, Chief Minister Stalin instructed all government departments to work together to support the public. The meeting also reviewed the functioning of automatic weather instruments, the Chennai Real Time Flood Forecasting System, the Integrated Flood Monitoring Center, the upgraded State Emergency Operations Center, the TN Alert public app and the TN Smart two point zero portal for government officials.
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