ANDHRA PRADESH: Montha’s Fury: Cyclone Montha Approaches!
Cyclone Montha, a brewing threat in the southeast Bay of Bengal, has intensified into a deep depression as of Sunday evening, October 26, 2025.
Positioned about 620 km west of Port Blair, 770 km east-southeast of Chennai, 820 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 810 km southeast of Kakinada, and 920 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, it is set to evolve rapidly.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts the system will strengthen into a cyclonic storm by Monday morning, October 27, over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal.
It will further escalate to a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning, October 28.
Landfall is anticipated near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh that Tuesday night, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, with sustained winds of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
The storm’s peak intensity will persist for roughly 12 hours before weakening into a cyclonic storm.
Alert Levels Signal High Risk
IMD has escalated warnings across Andhra Pradesh to safeguard lives and property.
- Monday, October 27: Red alert for 7 districts; orange for 16 districts; yellow for 3 districts.
- Tuesday, October 28: Red alert expands to 14 districts; orange for 8 districts; yellow for 4 districts.
These alerts highlight risks of flooding, structural damage, and disruptions from heavy downpours and gale-force winds.
Fishermen Urged to Stay Ashore
The Cyclone Warning Center in Visakhapatnam advises all fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea until Thursday, October 30, due to rough conditions.
Ports under highest alert include Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam, Gangavaram, and Kakinada. Additional notifications cover Kalingapatnam, Bheemili, and Vadarevu ports.
Coastal communities are encouraged to secure boats and monitor updates closely.
Relief Teams Deployed Statewide
The State Disaster Management Authority has mobilized robust response units.
- 9 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams stationed in vulnerable districts.
- 7 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on site.
- Additional teams poised at headquarters for immediate deployment.
Residents should remain indoors, avoid low-lying areas, and follow evacuation orders if issued. Essential supplies like food, water, and medicines are pre-positioned.
Heavy Rains to Drench Key Districts
Expect widespread downpours over the next four days, with very heavy to extremely heavy falls in coastal belts.
Monday, October 27:
- Very heavy to extremely heavy rains: Kakinada, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Bapatla, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, and Yanam.
- Heavy to very heavy rains: Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalle, East Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa, Nandyal.
- Heavy rains: Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur.
Tuesday, October 28:
- Heavy to very heavy rains: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalle, Kakinada, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Yanam.
- Heavy rains: Parvathipuram Manyam, Palnadu, Prakasam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Tirupati, YSR Kadapa, Kurnool, Nandyal.
- Heavy rains: Chittoor, Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur.
Wednesday, October 29:
- Heavy to very heavy rains: Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Kakinada, East Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Yanam.
- Heavy rains: Alluri Sitharama Raju, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu.
- Heavy rains: Bapatla, Prakasam, Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur.
These rains could trigger flash floods, urging timely precautions.