The very severe cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’ over southeast Bay of Bengal moved west-north westwards coming closer to Andhra coast. It lay centred over southeast and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal at about 920 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam, 850 km east-southeast of Kakinada and 780 km southeast of Kalingapatnam.

According to the Met Department, the system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Thurseday around noon.

Under its influence moderate rainfall at many places would commence from tomorrow afternoon over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha. Rains at most places would gradually increase with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls over coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast on the day of landfall.

Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would begin along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from tomorrow evening and increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.