The very severe cyclonic storm, Vardah over west central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal moved further westwards and lay centred at about 520 km east-southeast of Nellore, 490 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 480 km east-northeast of Chennai. The system is very likely to move west-southwestwards and maintain its intensity till this evening and thereafter, it is likely to weaken gradually while moving towards the coast. <br/><br/>According to the Met Department, Vardah has changed its direction and is very likely to cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast, close to Chennai by tomorrow afternoon. <br/>Our correspondent reports that Under the influence of the cyclonic system light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is very likely to commence from today evening and continue for subsequent 36 hours with light to moderate rainfall over north coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period. <br/><br/>Squally winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting up to 60 kmph would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts beginning tonight and will gradually increase to 70-80 kmph gusting up to 90 kmph at the time of landfall. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off south Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts during next 48 hours as the sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coasts. Port Warning Signal No.3 kept hoisted in Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam and Vodarevu while Warning Signal No.2 was hoisted in rest of the ports. <br/><br/>Andhra Pradesh government has alerted 11 mandals in Nellore district which are likely to be affected by the storm and deployed two teams of NDRF for rescue and relief operations. Four teams of NDRF have been kept standby for action. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who reviewed the situation with officials said that for the first time the State government is utilising the micro-level observational reports provided by ISRO to mitigate the loss of life, property and crop to the maximum extent. Toll-free help lines have been initiated in district headquarters' of Nellore, Chittoor, Prakasam and Kadapa and special officers have been appointed to monitor the situation.