The severe cyclonic storm, ‘JAL’ over southwest Bay of Bengal has remained practically stationary and lay centered at 550 km east-southeast of Chennai and 700 km southeast of Nellore. It would intensify further, move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore close to Chennai by tomorrow night.Under its influence, rain or thundershowers would occur at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 24 hours and fairly widespread rain would occur over south coastal Tamilnadu during next 48 hours with isolated heavy to very heavy falls. The intensity of showers would increase later with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls over north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. Gale winds speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph would prevail along and off North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts from today night and may increase up to 120-130 kmph gusting to 140 kmph at the time of landfall. Sea conditions will be very rough to high, along and off these coasts with storm surge of about 1 to 2 metres above th e normal tide which is likely to inundate the low lying areas of Nellore and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Thiruvallur, Chennai and Kanchipuram districts at the time of landfall. Extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to uprooting of large avenue trees may occur with escape routes being flooded with storm waters. Fishermen are warned not to venture into the sea. Coastal hutment dwellers have been advised to move to safer places. Distant Warning THREE has been issued for all major ports along the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh. A National Disaster Rescue and Relief Team has already arrived in Nellore from Arakkonam.