Cyclonic Storm "NISHA" expected to weaken

The cyclonic storm "NISHA" over southwest bay of bengal moved slightly northwestwards and lay centred at 0000 utc of today, the 27th november 2008, very close to tamil nadu & puducherry coast to the north of karaikal (43346). Latest observations indicate that the system crossed the coast close to the north of karaikal between 0000 and 0100 utc and lay centred at 0200 utc over coastal tamil nadu & puducherry close to the northwest of karaikal.

The Satellite imagery indicates gradual disorganisation of convection in association with the system. Associated broken intense to very intense convection over tamilnadu southwest bay of bengal adjoining west-central bay of bengal between lat 10.00 n to 15.00 northwest of long 84.50 e south andhra pradesh and parts of south interior karnataka.

Sustained maximum winds speed is estimated to be about 35 knots. The state of the sea is high around the system centre. The estimated central pressure is about 996 hpa. The lowest cloud top temperature (ctt) due to convection is around -600 c. Vertical wind shear of horizontal wind over the region is 10 to 20 knots. 24 hours shear tendency shows no significant change. The system lies to the south of the upper tropospheric ridge, which roughly runs along 140n.

Considering all the above, the system is likely to move in a northwesterly direction and weaken gradually.

Source : India Meteorological Department

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