Depression in Bay of Bengal may turn into cyclonic storm: IMD

Hyderabad: The met office has forecast heavy rains in parts of Andhra Pradesh as the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal may intensify into a cyclonic storm.

The depression moved north northwest and lay centred about 120 km south by southeast of Chennai, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday evening.

"The system is likely to move north northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu, south Andhra Pradesh coast and further intensify into a deep depression during next 24 hours. The system is likely to be close to Chennai during morning hours of 18th May. It will move northwards and then recurve north northeastwards and may intensify into a cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours," it said.

Strong winds with speed reaching 50 to 60 km per hour are likely along and off south and north coastal Andhra.

The IMD advised fishermen not to venture into the sea as sea condition is likely to be rough along and off coastal Andhra.

The met office has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Chittoor, Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool of Rayalaseema on Thursday and Friday.

Hyderabad Meteorological Centre has forecast thunderstorm accompanies with squalls at isolated places in Telangana till May 21.

Meanwhile, there was appreciable rise in maximum temperatures at one or two places in Telangana.

Adilabad was the hottest place in the state with maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius. Ramagundam recorded 43 degrees Celsius.

The heat wave in Telangana has claimed 300 lives this season but rains over past few days significantly brought down the mercury.