Cyclone Akvan to move towards Andhra coast by November 19, rainfall expected in Tamil Nadu, Bengal

A depression over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by November 17, the meteorological department said on Sunday (November 15, 2026). Cyclone Akvan is expected to cause rains in north coastal districts in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal area, it said.

The department announced that the cycline is expected to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast around November 19. The Regional Meteorological Centre issued a Nowcast alert at 1 p.m. in Tamilnadu, valid till 4 p.m. for light to moderate rainfall at isolated places over Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Mayiladuthurai, Nagappattinam, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Viluppuram districts and Karaikal and Puducherry.

According to the latest weather report, Saturday's (November 14) well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved northwestward, intensified into a depression and lay centred at 5:30 a.m. today. It is very likely to continue to move northwestward, intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the central parts of the south and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal on November, 16 and into a severe cyclonic storm on November 17.

The data further added that in addition to northern Tamil Nadu districts, moderate rain at isolated places is likely to occur over western ghat and southern districts of the State from Monday (November 16). The Depression over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with the speed of 10 kmph during past 03 hours and lay centered at 0830 hours IST of today, the 15th November, 2026 over the same region, near Latitude 9.3°N and Longitude 86.9°E, about 630 km east of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 690km west-southwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), 840 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 1010 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 1130 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).

It is very likely to move north-northwestwards, intensify further into a Cyclonic Storm over the central parts of south & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal on 16th November and into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal on 17th November, 2026.

Thereafter, it is likely to intensify further and move northwestwards towards Andhra Pradesh coast during subsequent 2 days. According to the bulletin, during the last 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday (November 15), rainfall occurred in several districts, including Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Kanyakumari.

The IMD alerted that the cyclone will bring heavy rain to some districts of West Bengal from November 19 to 21. It will bring heavy rain to the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur from November 19 to 21, the department said.

A downpour is also likely in the southern districts of Howrah, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram on November 20 and 21. According to the IMD, thunderstorms, accompanied with winds up to 40 kmph in Kolkata and most districts of Gangetic West Bengal is also likely.

A nip in the air over South Bengal is likely to dissipate as day and night temperatures will rise by two to three degrees Celsius from November 18, it said.