Cyclone Montha Forms Over Bay of Bengal, Likely to Intensify Further

Cyclone Montha Forms Over Bay of Bengal, Likely to Intensify Further
The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm Montha early on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its 3 a.m. bulletin. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards over the southwest and west-central Bay during the next 12 hours and strengthen into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by October 28. As of Monday morning, Montha was centered over the sea, and no coastal landfall warning had yet been issued. However, the IMD has advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal waters. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha have been placed on alert for heavy rainfall and strong winds in the coming days. Disaster management teams are on standby, and authorities are monitoring the storm’s path closely as it continues to intensify over the warm sea surface.