Thursday, December 1 2005 16:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: The Cyclonic storm looming over parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is "expected" to intensify and move in a west northwesterly direction and cross between Chennai and Machilipatnam early Saturday (December 1, 2005) morning, the weather office said.

Since Wednesday the system lay centred over the south-west bay, remaining "practically stationary" at about 400 km east southeast of Chennai, threatening north coastal Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh.

"Rains and strong winds are likely to commence from tonight over Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur,as the "rain bands",located 200-kms from the city are moving," Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director S R Ramanan told reporters here.

Under its influence most places in extreme north Coastal Tamil Nadu, comprising Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur and Pondicherry are likely to have rains, including isolated very heavy falls,he said.

Squally wind speeds reaching between 80-90 Kmph are also likely.Other coastal districts are also likely to experience rains and winds with speed between 50-60 Kmph during the period.

On chances of the system fizzling out, he said though no cyclone has struck Chennai since 2001, "we cannot be complacent." If it intensified "it will even become severe," he added.