Hyderabad witnessed heavy afternoon rains on Saturday after days of overcast skies, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Chennai with the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal expected to intensify into Cyclone Montha in the coming days.
According to the IMD, the depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen into a deep depression by October 26 and further into a cyclonic storm by October 27 morning. The system is forecast to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, on the evening or night of October 28.
"The depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards and lay centred at 11.30 am today over the same region… It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a deep depression by the 26th and into a cyclonic storm by the 27th morning," the IMD said in a statement.
The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple southern and eastern states between October 26 and 30 as Cyclone Montha takes shape. The affected regions include Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Odisha, Saurashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
"Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over several southern and eastern states in the coming days," the IMD noted on social media platform X.
An orange alert has been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for October 27. A red alert is in place for the coastal belt and northern and southern regions of Andhra Pradesh from October 27 to 29, as the cyclone approaches landfall.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad is expected to experience light to moderate rainfall over the next five days, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 kmph.
Cyclone Montha is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on the night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds up to 110 kmph.
"Telangana will experience gusty winds ranging from 30 to 40 km/h over the next five days, accompanied by thunderstorms... Hyderabad may receive light to moderate rainfall today and tomorrow, with similar conditions expected to remain over the next five days," said IMD scientist Dharma Raju in a statement to ANI.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed all district collectors, superintendents of police, and senior officials to remain vigilant and initiate precautionary measures.
"As the Montha cyclone is expected to severely impact the state between October 26 and 29, officials must stay on high alert," Naidu said in a statement following a teleconference with state authorities.
Cyclone Montha is a developing severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on October 28, 2025, according to the IMD.
The cyclone is expected to impact Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana, Kerala, and parts of Coastal Karnataka with heavy rainfall and strong winds between October 26 and 30.
An orange alert has been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet, while a red alert is in place for coastal Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Machilipatnam, from October 27 to 29.
Cyclone Montha is forecast to be a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 100–110 kmph when it makes landfall near Kakinada.
The Andhra Pradesh government has activated disaster response units, alerted district officials, and urged residents in coastal regions to stay indoors and follow evacuation advisories if issued.
With inputs from various news reports.
