Bay Low Forecast to Bring Heavy Rain to Southern India

A low-pressure system over the South Andaman Sea was forecast to strengthen into a depression and move toward the Andhra Pradesh coast, bringing heavy rain to parts of southern India, the India Meteorological Department said on October 30 and 31. The IMD’s October 30 forecast said the system was likely to consolidate over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas around October 31, then move west-northwest toward the Andhra Pradesh coast over the following two days. Officials said its further intensification remained uncertain. An IMD official described cyclone development as less likely than formation of a depression. On October 31, the department forecast isolated heavy rain in parts of Kerala from November 1 through 4, with 7 to 11 centimetres possible in 24 hours. Yellow alerts covered Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki on November 1; Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad on November 2; Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur on November 3; and Kannur and Kasaragod on November 4. Thunderstorms with winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour were also forecast during the period. For Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, the IMD forecast isolated very heavy rain, between 11.5 and 20...