Cyclone Burevi is very likely to hit Tamil Nadu on December 4, the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

This is the second cyclone that is predicted to hit the state in a week. Last week, a very severe cyclonic storm, Nivar, had battered the state.

Burevi is unlikely to be as intense as Nivar, IMD director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said.

It is expected to first hit Sri Lanka on December 2 and then Tamil Nadu on December 4.

The Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said a deep depression intensified into the cyclonic storm "Burevi on Tuesday evening.

It is very likely to cross the Sri Lanka coast close to Triconamalee during the evening or night of December 2 as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 75-85 kilometres per hour gusting to 95 kmph, the IMD's Cyclone Warning Division said.

It is very likely to move nearly westwards thereafter, emerging into the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area on 3rd December morning. It would then move nearly west-southwestwards and cross south Tamil Nadu coast between Kanyakumari and Pamban around the early morning of 4th December, it said.

From December 2, wind speeds between 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph can be expected over Comorin area, the Gulf of Mannar, and south Tamil Nadu coasts. Districts like Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram can expect strong winds on December 2.

Meanwhile, two teams from the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the coastal district of Thoothukudi.

These districts can expect heavy rain, while other coastal districts in north Tamil Nadu will see moderate rain. Additionally, districts like Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts and Karaikal can expect heavy rain. In Chennai, the skies will remain partly cloudy and thunderstorms with light to moderate rains are expected over the next 48 hours. Temperatures are expected to be between 30 and 22 degrees C.