The deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has moved over southwest Bay of Bengal about 550 km south-southeast of Chennai at 11.30 am on Monday.

The Met Department has predicted that the system would intensify further and is likely to turn into a cyclonic storm.The districts of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam have been warned against severe cyclonic storm and winds reaching a speed of 45 to 55 kmph.

The cyclone is expected to move west-southwestwards for some time and then move north-westwards and cross the north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by Wednesday evening/night, Fishermen who have ventured into the sea have been issued advisories to return to shores immediately.

For Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts which had borne the brunt of Cyclone Thane last year, the ensuing cyclone is also said to be severe on them.