Cyclone Helen to cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam

MACHILIPATNAM/VISAKHAPATNAM: The severe cyclonic storm, Helen, lay centred about 35 km southeast of Narsapur in West Godavari district and 85 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh as per the observations of Indian Mateorological Departement (IMD) in the early hours of Friday.

Based on these observations, IMD predicted that Helen would most likely move westward and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam by Friday afternoon.

After the landfall, the system would turn into a deep depression on Friday night and subsequently a depression on Saturday morning. The system is likely to weaken on Saturday night.

Helen is likely to trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh districts like Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam Vizianagaram, Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari districts during the next two days.

Moderate rainfall would also occur at many places over south Odisha during the next 24 hours.

Gale with wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph would prevail over Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari districts besides Visakhapatnam till Friday night.