The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that Cyclonic Storm Montha, which made landfall near Narasapur late Tuesday night, has now completed its landfall process and is expected to weaken into a deep depression by Wednesday evening.
According to IMD, the system is currently moving north-northwestwards at about 15 kmph across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At 5:30 am on Wednesday, the cyclone’s centre was located near latitude 17.0°N and longitude 81.3°E, approximately 80 km northwest of Narasapur, 100 km west of Kakinada, and 460 km southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).
IMD officials noted that the rear sector of the storm has now entered land, officially marking the end of the landfall phase. Continuous monitoring is ongoing through Doppler weather radars in Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam, alongside satellite data and observations from coastal weather stations.
Five-Hour Landfall Near Narasapur
Cyclone Montha made landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, south of Kakinada, starting around 11:30 pm Tuesday and lasting until 4:30 am Wednesday — nearly five hours.
During this period, wind speeds reached 90–100 kmph, with gusts up to 110 kmph, affecting several coastal districts including Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Bapatla, Kavali, Ulavapadu, and Nellore. The storm generated rough sea conditions, leading to high tidal surges and minor breaches in coastal embankments across low-lying regions.
IMD later clarified that the system crossed the coast slightly south of Kakinada, contrary to earlier projections predicting landfall closer to the city.
Heavy Rain To Persist Over Interior Regions
Although the cyclone’s intensity has reduced, widespread rainfall continues over coastal Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions. The weakening system is moving inland toward Telangana and southern Odisha, with the potential for localised flooding and waterlogging in some areas due to continuous heavy rain.
As of early Wednesday, no large-scale destruction has been reported. However, strong winds and uprooted trees caused power disruptions and road blockages in parts of East Godavari and West Godavari districts, according to preliminary reports.
Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone zones, as intermittent rain is expected to continue through Wednesday evening.
