Cyclonic storm Lehar’s intensity over west-central Bay of Bengal has further come down, weakening the system into a deep depression, this morning. It lay centred at about 120 kms east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 160 km south of Kakinada. Moving west-northwestwards, it would weaken further and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam as a depression by this afternoon.

Under its influence, rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry during next 24 hours. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over Telangana during the next 36 hours.

Squally winds speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh coast during next 12 hours. The port signals along the coast were also lowered to Local Cautionary number III.

However, the fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea as the state of the sea remains rough to very rough along and off the coast.