Chennai, Nov 25 (UNI) Heavy rains accompanied by thunder and gusty winds pounded Chennai and suburbs, as the severe cyclonic storm 'Nivar', which moved closer to the coast, will  intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between midnight  tonight and early tomorrow morning.

Under its influence, Chennai city and suburbs have been

experiencing heavy rains since this morning, with the

intensity getting increased with every passing hour.

Several areas and arterial roads in the city were water

logged and civic authorities have swung into action to

clear the water.

Meanwhile, the Chembarambakkam reservoir, which

was fast filling up to its full level of 24 ft, was opened

and surplus waters to the extent of 1,000 cusecs was

released at 1200 noon today.

Flood warning was issued to people living in low lying

areas along the Adyar river and were being evacuated

to relief centres.

With more rains upto an extent of 20 cm was forecast

in Chembarambakkam till tomorrow early morning, the

outflow might be increased later in the day.

A bulletin issued by the Met office said the severe cyclonic

storm over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-north

westwards with a speed of 11 kmph during the past six

hours and lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal about

240 km east-south east of Cuddalore, about 250 km east

southeast of Puducherry and 300 km south southeast of

Chennai.

It is very likely to intensify further into a very severe cyclonic

storm during the next six hours, move west northwestwards

and cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal

and Mamallapuram around Puducherry during midnight of today

and early hours of tomorrow as a very severe cyclonic storm

with a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph and

150 kmph.

Gale wind speed reaching 105-115 kmph gusting to 130 kmph

is prevailing over Southwest Bay of Bengal. It would further

increase becoming 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph today

afternoon to early tomorrow.

Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph

is prevailing along and off the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and

adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coast and over Gulf of Mannar.

It will gradually increase and become gale wind with speed

reaching 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph along and off

coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

(Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Myladuthurai, Cuddalore, Puducherry,

Villupuram and Chengalpattu) and 80-90 gusting to 100 kmph

very likely over Tiruvarur, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur

districts during the same period.

Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph along

and off Gulf of Mannar, south coastal districts of Tamil Nadu

during the same period.

The sea condition is very high over Southwest Bay of Bengal

and rough to very rough along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

and over Gulf of Mannar. It would gradually become phenomenal

over the same area from today noon to night.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into these sea areas.

As per the alert issued by INCOIS, high waves in the range

of 3.0-5.8 meters are forecasted till 2330 hours of tomorrow

along the Northern Tamil Nadu coast from Point Calimer to

Pulicat.

High waves in the range of 2.0-3.5 meters are forecasted

for the same period along the Southern Tamil Nadu coast

from Colachel to Dhanushkodi.

UNI GV 1240