LIVE UPDATES: Cyclone Phethai to Intensify into 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' in Andhra Pradesh

UPDATE AT 1:40 PM: We are bracing up to face the Cyclone. Response teams and officials numbering more than 10000 are stationed as part of disaster preparedness. Hoping that the loss of life and property will be minimal: Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh

UPDATE AT 13:27 PM: A.P CM Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh issues an update:

UPDATE AT 12:55 PM: Cyclone Phethai has made a landfall at Katrenikona in East Godavari district. Heavy rains and winds experienced in many areas in the district.

UPDATE AT 9:00 AM: ‘PHETHAI’ is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada during December 17

UPDATE AT 8:15 AM: Phethai Cyclone expected to make a landfall on Monday afternoon in Andhra Pradesh. It is going to be 270 km south-east of Kakinada and 250 km north-east of Chennai.

UPDATE AT 8:34 PM: Phethai Cyclone persists over southwest & adjoining west central Bay of Bengal.

A severe cyclone, Phethai, is likely to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Monday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned in its latest weather forecast. This is the fourth cyclone to hit the eastern coast this season and comes about a month after cyclone Gaja hit the Tamil Nadu coast on 16 November, causing a massive destruction. Earlier, cyclone Daye and very severe cyclone Titli ravaged coastal areas in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

“In the current season itself, the eastern coast has witnessed three cyclonic storms— cyclone Daye, Titli, and Gaja. Now, one is forecast. It is the first time since 1985 when seven cyclones have hit the Indian coast in a year,” said M. Mohapatra, senior scientist and head, services, IMD.

The weather department said that the depression intensified into a deep depression and lay centred over the southeast Bay of Bengal about 930km east-southeast of Chennai and 1,090km south-southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

“It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours (16-17 December) and move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday afternoon,” IMD said in its forecast.

It is likely to make landfall on Monday afternoon.

Here's by is the notice issued by the Indian Meterological Department: 

Very rough conditions persist over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and IMD warned fishermen not to venture into the south-west Bay of Bengal and along and off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from 14 December to 17 December.

Those, who are out in deep sea areas are advised to return to the coast,” IMD said.

A warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh from 15 December evening. Some coastal areas could witness extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20cm on 16-17 December. Isolated places in south Chhattisgarh and Odisha could also witness heavy rainfall on Monday. Squally winds reaching 45-65kmph are likely to blow along and off Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from the evening of 15 December. These are likely to gust up to 100kmph from 17 December, IMD said.