Chennai, December 8: Heavy rainfall is predicted over several parts of Tamil Nadu as cyclone 'Mandous' over the Bay of Bengal is expected to cross the coast between Puducherry and Sriharikota in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on the midnight of December 9, the India Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

The well-marked low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression on December 6 and it further intensified into a "deep depression" and lay about 750 km off Chennai as on Wednesday. Cyclone Mandous Live Tracker Map on Windy: Cyclonic Storm Intensifies, Thunderstorms and Heavy Rains Likely Over Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh From December 8; Check Real-Time Status.

In its bulletin issued on Thursday, the IMD said the cyclonic storm 'Mandous' (pronounced as 'Man-dous') over Southwest Bay of Bengal about 500 km off east south east of Karaikal.

"It is expected to move west-northwest and cross north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coast between Puducherry and Sriharikota with a wind speed of 70 km per hour around midnight of December 9," an IMD bulletin said. Cyclone Mandous Update: IMD Issues Red Alert in 3 Tamil Nadu Districts, Orange Alert in 6; Heavy Rain Likely on December 9 and 10.

Puducherry is about 160 km from Chennai. The Tamil Nadu government has made all precautionary measures in view of the forecast for heavy rainfall.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)