Cyclonic threat to north-coastal AP

- Likely to intensify into depression on Oct 18
- Heavy to very heavy rains forecast

Visakhapatnam: Even as Rayalaseema battered by floods is yet to inch back to normalcy, Uttarandhra region seems reeling under a fresh cyclonic threat. Indian Meteorological department here on Sunday predicted

A cyclone threat to the Odisha and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next two-three days. The IMD scientists said that isolated rains would occur from October 16 and fairly widespread rains on October 18 and 19 across coastal Andhra Pradesh. Under the influence of cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal and east­west zone, a low-pressure area is likely to form over central Bay of Bengal with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to almost 6-km above mean sea level tilting towards southwestwards

The scientists also said that it is very likely to intensify into a depression during next 48 hours and move northwestwards reaching south Odisha­ and north Andhra Pradesh coast by morning of October 19.

Under the influence of the depression, fairly widespread rains across the north coastal Andhra Pradesh would occur with heavy to very heavy rains at some places during the same period, the IMD scientists said.