The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that Cyclone Montha, a “severe cyclonic storm,” is expected to make landfall today, bringing heavy rain and strong winds across several southern and eastern states.

The storm, which began as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, intensified into Cyclone Montha late on October 27. At 11:30 pm, it was positioned near latitude 14°N and longitude 83.5°E, the IMD said.

The cyclone is packing winds of 90–100 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 110 kmph. According to the latest update, it is located 280 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam, 360 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 410 km south of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and 610 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).

Expected path and landfall

The weather department said Cyclone Montha is likely to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, near Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada, about 200 km from Odisha’s Malkangiri, by Sunday evening or night.

In its press release, the IMD stated, “Storm surge of height about 1 m above astronomical tide is likely to cause inundation over low-lying areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam (of Puducherry) around the landfall time.”

Moisture from the Bay of Bengal continues to fuel the storm, leading to its rapid intensification.

The IMD has issued weather alerts for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala, warning of widespread heavy rainfall.

  • October 28: Heavy to very heavy rain is likely over Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, and Coastal Karnataka.

  • Until October 30: Heavy to very heavy rain expected in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.

Low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are at risk of flash floods, the IMD cautioned.

Red alert in Andhra Pradesh

The IMD placed several Andhra Pradesh districts on red alert, including Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Yanam, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, and West Godavari.

These regions are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall for the next two days. Officials said the red warning will remain in effect until October 30.

Odisha on high alert

In Odisha, red alerts have been issued for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts. Several other districts have been placed under orange and yellow alerts depending on expected rainfall intensity.

Orange alert in Tamil Nadu

Parts of Tamil Nadu are under orange alert, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Ranipet, Thiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, and Villupuram districts. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in these regions today.

Telangana also braces for heavy rain

Several Telangana districts, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad, are under red alert.

The IMD also issued an orange alert for Komuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Peddapalli, Khammam, Warangal, and Hanumakonda, predicting heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 50 kmph.

Apart from the main affected states, the impact of Cyclone Montha will also extend to West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Bihar, where rainfall activity is expected to increase over the next few days.