Cyclone Ditwah: Where will the storm hit? IMD warns of 5 days of heavy rain in these states, districts

Trouble from a new cyclonic storm named ‘Ditwah’ seems to be brewing following the weakening of the Senyar storm. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the new storm is projected to move northwestwards across the Sri Lanka coast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.

The impact of Cyclone Ditwah is expected to be widespread and will be felt on 30 November in multiple states, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The prevailing atmospheric system is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall until 30 November.

Where is Ditwah?

The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah moved slowly northwards with a speed of 3 kmph during the past 6 hours and lay centred at 1430 hrs IST of today, IMD said in a post on X.

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards across the Sri Lanka coast & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and reach over the southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of 30th November, it added.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday reviewed the preparedness ahead of cyclone 'Ditwah' in the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to bring heavy rainfall in the state. The weather office has predicted heavy rains in the southern and Cauvery delta districts of the state, between November 29 and 30.

"A Red alert has been issued for the southern and delta districts. I held a video conference with the collectors of the districts where red alert has been sounded. Already, a meeting of higher officials was convened with senior officials yesterday (Thursday) to issue detailed instructions," Stalin told reporters. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited the state emergency operation centre set up by the Revenue and Disaster Management department in Chennai and took stock of the situation.

IMD predicts heavy rains in 5 states

Predicting the impact of Ditwah, IMD in its latest press release said, “Under the influence of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah [Pronunciation: Ditwah] over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast, heavy to very heavy rainfall likely over Tamil Nadu during 27th- 30th November with isolated extremely heavy falls on 28th & 29th November.”

Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu are on IMD's orange alert for heavy rains. Sivaganga, Tenkasi and Virudhunagar are on yellow alert tomorrow.

Meanwhile, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema are expected to receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall till 2 December.

Forecasting isolated extremely heavy rainfall on 30 November in Kerala, IMD said isolated heavy rainfall is likely till 29 November. In Telangana, heavy rain is likely on 30 November and 1 December, while South Interior Karnataka can brace for heavy rains on 29 November. Thunderstorm and lightning warnings are also in place for the above-mentioned states.

IMD in its press release dated 27 November said, “Thunderstorm with lightning very likely over Tamil Nadu during 27th November-01st December; over Kerala & Mahe during 27th- 29th; Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam during 28th November – 01st December; North interior Karnataka on 30th & South Interior Karnataka on 29th & 30th November.”

India launches Operation Sagar Bandhu

India on Friday delivered essential relief supplies to cyclone-battered Sri Lanka, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying to the island nation that New Delhi stands ready to provide more aid to it to deal with the situation.

New Delhi launched 'Operation Sagar Bandhu' to assist Sri Lanka in its hour of crisis and the first tranche of relief materials were handed after the consignments were transported by Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri.

(With inputs from agencies)