Sub: Cyclonic storm ‘GAJA’ over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm: (Cyclone Warning for Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coast: Red Message), Time of issue: 1240 hours IST, Dated: 15-11-2018

Yesterday’s cyclonic storm (CS) “Gaja” over southwest and adjoining southeast & westcentral Bay of Bengal (BoB) moved west-southwestwards during past 24 hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm (SCS) at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 15th November, 2018 and lay centered over southwest BoB near latitude 11.3°N and longitude 82.6°E, about 320 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 300 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu).

The system is being tracked by Doppler Weather Radar at Chennai and Karaikal.

It is very likely to move west-southwestwards and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore, around Nagapattinam during late evening of today, the 15th November, 2018 as a Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.