The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that cyclonic storm Ditwah, which intensified from a deep depression near the Sri Lanka coast, has begun its movement in a north-northwesterly direction. The system is currently tracking over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, posing a significant threat to the southern Indian coastline.
Current Location and Predicted Path of Cyclone Ditwah
As of 8:30 AM on Friday, the cyclone was located near latitude 8.3°N and longitude 81.0°E. It lay about 40 km southwest of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka and approximately 530 km south of Chennai, India. The weather system has been moving at a speed of 10 km per hour over the past six hours.
The IMD forecasts that Cyclone Ditwah will continue on its north-northwestward trajectory, crossing the Sri Lankan coast and moving into the southwest Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to reach the waters near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the early morning of Sunday, November 30.
Widespread Impact and State-wise Weather Warnings
The impact of Cyclone Ditwah is expected to be extensive, with several Indian states bracing for severe weather conditions on November 30. The states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are all anticipated to feel the effects of the storm.
The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu from November 27 to 30. Isolated areas are likely to experience extremely heavy falls on November 28 and 29. Specific districts in Tamil Nadu, including Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Thoothukkudi, and Tirunelveli, have been placed under an orange alert for heavy rains. A yellow alert has been issued for Sivaganga, Tenkasi, and Virudhunagar districts.
Significance and Context of the Storm
Cyclone Ditwah marks the third cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal during the current post-monsoon season of October-November. Its development and path are being closely monitored by authorities, with flight operations already experiencing disruptions. Four Colombo-bound flights were recently diverted to Thiruvananthapuram airport due to the adverse weather associated with the cyclone.
Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay updated with the latest bulletins from the India Meteorological Department and to take all necessary precautions as the cyclone approaches the coastline.
