Cyclone Ditvaah has approached Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall are in effect in many districts. IMD claims that the storm will not make landfall, but changing wind speed and heavy rains are indicating new danger.
Chennai. Cyclone Ditvah is once again continuously affecting the weather of South India. A sudden change in weather has been observed in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry throughout the day today. Despite the low wind speed, there is a possibility of very heavy rain in many districts. The big update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is that this cyclone will not hit the land, but its impact may affect many coastal areas. It is a matter of relief for the people of Tamil Nadu that the strength of the storm is gradually decreasing, but the danger has not been completely averted. Strong winds, fallen trees, water logging and power cuts may occur in coastal districts.
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Will Cyclone Ditvah worsen the weather in late November?
Cyclone Ditvaah is currently active in the south-west Bay of Bengal and was spotted about 50 km off the Tamil Nadu coast. The latest IMD report shows that while the wind speed was 90 kmph in the morning, it is expected to reduce to 55–65 kmph in the evening. This means that the storm is weakening, but even after this there will be a danger of heavy rain. According to IMD, the path of the cyclone is likely to remain parallel to the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This means it could move further north without hitting the coast, but leaving heavy rainfall.
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Which districts are most afraid of rain?
The districts where IMD has issued alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall include: Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram and Chengalpattu. Apart from this, districts like Chennai, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Trichy, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Ranipet may also face heavy rain in the next 24 hours. Very heavy rain has also been predicted in Puducherry and Karaikal. The impact of rain may also increase in the southern coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.
Can Ditwah cause major damage even without landfall?
Although the cyclone will not hit the land, its effect can be seen in many ways. Officials warned that due to strong winds and persistent rain:
- Thatched houses can be damaged
- Power and communication lines may be affected
- trees and poles may fall
- Low lying areas may be flooded
- Hundreds of acres of crops in the fields may be affected
That is, despite not making landfall, this storm will act like a “Silent Impact Cycle”—leaving damage even without hitting.
Will this storm weaken further or take a new turn?
This is the biggest question. According to weather experts, Cyclone Ditvah may weaken further in the next few hours. But after that it is also possible that the scope of rain and the impact of strong winds may increase. People in coastal areas, fishermen and travelers have been advised to exercise caution for the time being.