Chennai, December 13: The cyclonic storm “Ward”, over the south-west Bay, weakened into a deep depression and remained stationary, about 200 km north-east of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka and 360 km south-east of Nagapattinam.
A bulletin issued by the weather office here said the system was likely to move in a west-south-westerly direction and cross north Sri Lanka coast early tomorrow morning.
It is then likely to enter Gulf of Mannar and cross south Tamil Nadu coast between Kanniyakumari and Pamban on December 15 morning. Under its influence, rainfall at many places, isolated heavy to very heavy falls was likely over north coastalTamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 48 hours. Rainfall at most places with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls was also likely over south coastalTamil Nadu during the same period. Squally winds, with speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 Kmph are also likely along and off south Tamil Nadu coast during the next 48 hours.
Squally winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph and gusting to 70 kmph is also likely along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast during the next 24 hours. The sea condition would be very rough to high along and off south Tamil Nadu coast and very rough along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea.
Meanwhile, Nagapattinam district received widespread rains since yesterday following the cyclone and danger signal number three has been hoisted at the port.People of Chennai city and suburbs, which received heavy showers last night, woke up to overcast skies.Once the storm started weakening, grey clouds paved way for bright sunshine as the commercial hub of T Nagar and Puraswalkam drew hoardes of Christmas festival shoppers.
–Agencies