Chennai, December 14: Cyclone Phethai is moving towards Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu, after which authorities have issued a warning of heavy rains in Chennai. Cyclone Phethai is brewing over the Bay of Bengal and may hit parts of south-coastal Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Tamil Nadu by Friday evening, bringing heavy rain. The storm is likely to intensify into a tropical cyclone during this time.

The deep depression will intensify into a cyclonic storm during the 24 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday. Once formed, the storm will be called Phethai, a tropical cyclone name suggested by Thailand. If it happens, it would be the seventh cyclone this season in the Indian Ocean region, said Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist of independent weather forecasting agency Skymet.

"There will be rain from Saturday and it would gradually pick up pace. After a heavy spell on December 16, its intensity will decrease. Northern parts of Tamil Nadu and Chennai can expect heavy rainfall," Palawat was quoted as saying by TOI. Rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places likely to commence over coastal Andhra Pradesh from the evening of December 15, said the IMD.

"Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh on December 16 and 17. Rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places likely over south Chhattisgarh and Odisha on December 17," it added.

In view of the possible arrival of the cyclone, the Tamil Nadu government directed all deep sea fishing vessels to be returned to the coast. The state agriculture department also suggested a number of precautions to farmers so that they can save their produce from the damage by the cyclone.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 14, 2018 01:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).