Tuesday, November 29 2005 19:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Rain or thundershowers are likely to hit North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coast from tonight (Nov 29, 2005), as yesterday's deep depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards and intensified into cyclonic storm, the Local Weather Office said here today.

The cyclonic storm lay 600 km east southeast of Chennai at 5.30 PM this evening. It was likely to intensify further and move in a west-north westerly direction towards North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coast, the weather office said.

Under it's influence, rain or thundershowers, including isolated heavy showers, were likely to occur at many places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, South Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema, Kerala, Lakshadweep and coastal and south interior Karnataka during the next 48-hours, beginning at 8.30 AM this morning, it said.

Gale force winds, with speeds reaching 60-70 KMPH, was likely to commence along and off North coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema during the same period, it said.