CHENNAI, DEC 9 : The Met Office on Friday evening announced

that it will be the 13th occasion in 123 years, since 1898, a Cyclone

will be crossing the coast between Chennai and Puducherry, creating

a record of sorts.

The Cyclonic Storm Mandous, which is moving west-northwestwards,

with a speed of 14 kmph and lay centred about 160 km southeast of

Mamallapuram and cross the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and

adjoining south AP coasts between Puducherry and Sriharikota

around Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) as a cyclonic storm with

a maximum sustained wind speed of 65-75 kmph and gusting to

85 kmph during midnight of today to early hours of tomorrow.

Met office sources said in the last 123 years starting from 1898 till

2021, so far 12 cyclone have crossed the coast between Chennai

and Puducherry and the cyclonic strom ‘Mandous’ will be the 13th

cyclone that will be crossing the coast in the same region.

This is the first cyclone for the year 2022 after the onset of the

Northeast monsoon in the last week of October.

The met office also said said the Chennai city has received 7 cm

of rain since 0830 hrs yesterday morning, and blustery winds, with

the speed of 75 kmph is blowing across the city at present and it

will it will become gusty to 85 to 90 kmph at the time of landfall.

The cyclonic storm Mandous is very likely to weaken into a Deep

Depression within 3 hours after landfall.

Though no structural damage is expected over the interior districts of

Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely

to occur at isolated places over districts of north interior Tamilnadu,

Rayalaseema and adjoining districts of South Interior Karnataka

tomorrow.(UNI)