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Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘OCKHI’ over Southeast Arabian Sea and Cyclone Warning for Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands- RED message (Affected states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep Islands and Puducherry)

The cyclonic storm ‘OCKHI’ over Southeast Arabian Sea continued to move west-northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 01st December, 2017 over southeast Arabian Sea near Latitude 8.8º N and Longitude 74.0º E, about 110 km north-northeast of Minicoy and 290 km southeast of Amini Divi. The system is very likely to intensify further during next 24 hours. It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and then move north/northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours.

Warning:- Heavy Rainfall warning:- Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) very likely over Lakshadweep area during next 24 hours and isolated heavy to very heavy falls during subsequent 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kerala during next 24 hours.

Wind warning:- Gale winds speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph very likely over & around Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and gradual decrease thereafter.Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely along & off Kerala during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during next 24 hours.

Sea condition:- Sea conditions would be high to very high over and around Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and high during subsequent 24 hours. Sea conditions would be high to very high along & off Kerala coast during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during subsequent 24 hours.

Damage Expected over Lakshadweep Islands:- Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Major damage to thatched houses/huts: Major damage to kutcha houses, some damage to pucca roads and flooding of escape routes. Damage to banana & Papaya trees and standing crops.

Storm surge:- Storm surge of about 1 meter above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of Lakshadweep Islands.

Action suggested:- Lakshadweep Islands: Fishermen along & off Lakshadweep Islands are advised not to venture into the sea during next 48 hours. Kerala & Karnataka coast: Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along & off Kerala & Karnataka coast during next 48 hrs.

Weather warning from 01 to 05 Dec 2017:-01 December (Day 1):
♦ Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Lakshadweep; heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands and heavy rain at isolated places over Kerala and interior Tamil Nadu.
♦ Gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph very likely over & around Lakshadweep Islands. ♦ Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely along and off Kerala coast and speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely around Andaman & Nicobar Islands and adjoining Seas.
♦ Sea conditions very likely to be high to very high along and around Lakshadweep Islands and high to very high along & off Kerala coast.
♦ Fishermen are advised not to venture into Sea along and off Kerala coast and around Lakshadweep Islands and are advised to be cautious while venturing into Sea around Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
♦ Dense to very dense fog at isolated places very likely over Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

02 December (Day 2):
♦ Heavy to very heavy rain very likely at isolated places over Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands; heavy rain at isolated places over interior Tamil Nadu.
♦ Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely over & around Lakshadweep Islands and 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph off Karnataka coast.
♦ Sea conditions are very likely to be rough around Lakshadweep Islands.
♦ Fishermen are advised not to venture into Sea along and off Kerala and Karnataka coasts and around Lakshadweep Islands and are advised to be cautious while venturing into Sea around Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
♦ Dense to very dense fog at isolated places very likely over Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura.

03 December (Day 3):♦ No weather warning. 04 December (Day 4): ♦ Heavy rain likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. 05 December (Day 5): ♦ Heavy rain likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry.