A growing weather anomaly in the Strait of Malacca, as well as the neighboring South Andaman Sea, is predicted to turn into Cyclone Senyar by November 26, the IMD predicts. India Current News Upon formation, the system will cross over the Bay of Bengal and cause heavy rains to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep, and others. Its landfall direction is still unclear, but the development of the system is being tracked closely by the weather agencies. The government has advised the residents in coastal areas to remain alert, adhere to instructions, and make plans in case of a hit in the form of strong winds, rough seas, and heavy rainfall within the next few days.
Cyclone Senyar: Formation, Naming, and Current Forecasts
A tropical depression that is within the Strait of Malacca and the South Andaman Sea is prone to develop into a cyclone storm dubbed Senyar, which means lion, a name proposed by the UAE under the North Indian Ocean cyclone naming scheme under the watch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN ESCAP.
Strong cyclones are common occurrences in the post-monsoon months of the year in the Bay of Bengal. Of late, a cyclone named Montha hit at the end of October, resulting in the destruction of crops worth billions of dollars and the loss of two lives. With the intensification of the new system, the meteorologists warn that it is yet to be seen where the new system will go and where it will leave its mark on the ground. The cyclone can either move along the coast of Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh or move northwards to Odisha and Bangladesh. This will be more accurately predicted upon the disturbance becoming a full cyclonic storm.
The people living along the eastern side of the Indian coastline have been advised to be alert and to watch official news developments as the weather pattern progresses.
Rainfall Warnings and Regional Alerts
Heavy rainfall warnings have been declared by the IMD in a number of states and island areas, specifically the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which will be affected first. The winds are likely to intensify with time as the system moves closer to the central Bay of Bengal.
The IMD has particularly observed that the intensity of rain will rise steadily over the weekend, particularly in the Nicobar Islands, whereby the amount of rainfall can be as much as 204 mm in 24 hours.
| Region | Rainfall Forecast | Dates | Additional Alerts |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Heavy to very heavy rain | Nov 23–28 | Winds 35–65 km/hr |
| Tamil Nadu | Heavy to very heavy rain | Nov 23–25 | School closures in several districts |
| Kerala & Mahe | Heavy to very heavy rain | Nov 23–25 | Thunderstorms & lightning possible |
| Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam | Heavy rain | Nov 23–24 | Localized flooding risk |
| Lakshadweep | Heavy rain | Nov 23–24 | Rough sea conditions |
| Rayalaseema | Heavy rain | Nov 23 | Thunderstorms likely |
Chennai and Tamil Nadu Weather Conditions
Persistent rains have already been experienced, and Tamil Nadu has already announced school closures in various districts as they influence daily life. There will be light to moderate rains in various regions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, and thunderstorms and lightning should be observed.
Totally unusual districts where much rain would be expected are:
These include Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal.
As Cyclone Senyar is projected to intensify in the coming days, the state governments have advised fishermen not to go out to sea and people to adhere to all the emergency directives.
