Nilam Update : More rains - Cyclone Nilam moves closer..

Cyclone ‘Nilam’ has disturbed people for sure… at Chennai, this morning the Sun was out at last and the rain did stop  - now it is raining still….. From a tropical Cyclone developing to a Cyclone, Nilam reportedly would not have the intensity of ‘Thane’ which devastated Tamilnadu and Pondy in Dec 2011. 

A tropical cyclone is a rotational low pressure system in tropics when the central pressure falls by 5 to 6 hPa from the surrounding and maximum sustained wind speed reaches 34 knots (about 62 kmph).  The word cyclone has been derived from Greek word ‘cyclos’ which means ‘coiling of a snake’. The word cyclone was coined by Heary Piddington who worked as a Rapporteur in Kolkata during British rule. The terms "hurricane" and "typhoon" are region specific names for a strong "tropical cyclone". Tropical cyclones are called “Hurricanes” over the Atlantic Ocean and “Typhoons” over the Pacific Ocean.

Here is some update from IMD, Chennai - Bulletin No: BOB 02/2012/18

Dated: 31.10.2012, Time of issue: 1030 hours IST

The Cyclonic Storm ‘NILAM’, moved northwestwards and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today, the 31stOctober 2012 near latitude 11.00N and longitude 81.00E, about 260 km south-southeast of Chennai and 300 km north of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka). The system would intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and move northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Puducherry and Nellore, close to Chennai by 31stOctober, 2012 evening.

Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cm or more) would occur over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 24 hrs. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and north interior Tamil Nadu during next 48 hrs.

Gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours. Sea condition will be high to very high along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours.

According to some other reports, Cyclone Nilam is expected to make a landfall this evening between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, bringing in heavy rains in the region, with tide levels reaching 1.5 meters.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar @ 11:00 noon.