CHENNAI (South Asian Desk) — Bay of Bengal cyclone alert 2025 intensified on Tuesday as a well-marked low-pressure area formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department predicts depression status by afternoon. Heavy rains prompted red alerts for eight districts. Schools closed statewide. Winds gust up to 60 kmph. The system sits 400 km southeast of Chennai. (46 words)
This Bay of Bengal cyclone alert 2025 disrupts vital South Asian trade routes. Tamil Nadu ports handle 20 percent of India’s cargo. Floods threaten supply chains to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Farmers face paddy crop risks amid delayed harvests. Regional economies brace for INR 5,000 crore losses if escalation occurs.xz
Tamil Nadu Red Alert Heavy Rain Grips Coast
Tamil Nadu red alert heavy rain forced closures across eight districts on Tuesday. Villupuram Cuddalore Mayiladuthurai Nagapattinam Tiruvallur Thanjavur Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram drew red warnings. Orange alerts hit Chennai Chengalpattu Kancheepuram Kallakurichi Ariyalur Perambalur Thoothukudi Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari.
Schools and colleges shuttered in Chennai Cuddalore Villupuram Ranipet Chengalpattu and Trichy. Thoothukudi limited holidays to schools. Salem and Pudukottai suspended classes only. Puducherry and Karaikal halted all institutions. Authorities cited safety amid downpours.
Rains totalled 160 mm in Tamil Nadu Puducherry and Karaikal from October 1 to 21. This exceeded normals by 59 percent. Thangachimadam recorded 17 cm in 24 hours ending 0830 hours IST October 21. Pamban hit 15 cm. Mandapam 14 cm. Chidambaram and Velankanni each logged 10 cm.
A wall collapse in Cuddalore claimed two lives around 1030 hours. A 70-year-old woman died at the scene. Her 40-year-old daughter succumbed in hospital. Officials probed structural failures post-monsoon.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed impacts. “The North East monsoon has intensified with Chennai and nearby districts receiving continuous rainfall” Stalin said. “Another spell is expected in two days possibly heavier than last year.” He urged vigilance against water stagnation.
IMD Bay of Bengal Cyclone Alert Tamil Nadu Forecasts Depression
IMD cyclone warning Tamil Nadu escalated with details on the low-pressure system. It formed at 0530 hours IST October 21 over southwest Bay of Bengal. By 0830 hours it marked as well-defined. The area lies under upper air cyclonic circulation over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.
Forecasters expect intensification into a depression over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu south Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry coasts by afternoon October 22. The system moves west-northwestwards towards those coasts. Further deepening likely in 24 hours. Extremely heavy falls over 21 cm threaten Tamil Nadu on October 21 and 22. Very heavy rain hits October 23. Light to moderate showers with isolated heavy falls persist October 21 to 24. Thunderstorms and lightning accompany bursts next five days.
Squally winds at 40-50 kmph gusting 60 kmph batter southwest Bay of Bengal. Speeds rise to 50-60 kmph gusting 70 kmph October 22 to 24. Along Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts gusts reach 35-45 kmph now climbing to 50-60 kmph October 23 and 24. Sea conditions turn rough to very rough off Tamil Nadu coasts till October 23. Fishermen avoid south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal till October 24. Those at sea return immediately.
Regional Meteorological Centre Director B Amudha briefed on risks. “A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked low-pressure system located approximately 400 km from Chennai” Amudha stated. “By noon tomorrow there is a possibility that the system will strengthen into a Depression off the coasts of north Tamil Nadu Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh.”
Northeast Monsoon Tamil Nadu 2025 Advances Fiercely
Northeast monsoon Tamil Nadu 2025 delivers relentless assaults. Heavy to very heavy rainfall over south peninsular India spans October 21 to 24. Isolated heavy falls strike Tamil Nadu Puducherry Coastal and South Interior Karnataka. Very heavy bouts target Coastal Andhra Pradesh Yanam Rayalaseema South Interior Karnataka and Kerala.
Extremely heavy rainfall very likely over Tamil Nadu October 21 and 22. Kerala faces similar on October 22. Flash flood risk rates low to moderate over watersheds in Tamil Nadu Puducherry and Karaikal districts. Areas include Karaikal Puducherry Ariyalur Coimbatore Cuddalore Dharmapuri Kanchipuram Karur Nagapattinam Namakkal Perambalur Pudukkottai Sivaganga Thanjavur Thiruvarur Tiruchirappalli Tiruppur Tuticorin and Virudhunagar till 1130 hours IST October 22.
Impacts include localised road flooding. Waterlogging submerges low-lying zones. Underpasses close in cities. Visibility drops. Traffic snarls ensue. Kutcha roads suffer damage. Vulnerable structures teeter. Landslides threaten hills. Horticulture and crops face inundation. Chief Minister MK Stalin directed preparations. He instructed district collectors to stock relief camps with food water and medicines. Teams deploy JCB machines boats pumps trucks and saws. Grievance redressal activates swiftly. Rice procurement proceeds uninterrupted.
Agromet advisories guide farmers. Store harvested rice and groundnut safely. Drain fields of rice cotton black gram maize tapioca vegetables. Plantations of coconut banana and black pepper require clearance. Livestock shelters brace for winds.
Pudukottai reported severe stagnation. Residents alerted officials. Pumps cleared key spots. Cuddalore’s fatalities highlight vulnerabilities. Debris removal teams mobilised. Broader forecasts signal very heavy rain over Coastal Andhra Pradesh Yanam and Rayalaseema October 21 to 23. South Interior Karnataka sees similar October 21 and 22. Kerala contends October 21 and 23. Coastal Karnataka October 22 and 23.
Background: Monsoon Volatility and Precedents
Northeast monsoon Tamil Nadu 2025 echoes volatile patterns. October supplies 40 percent of seasonal rain. Last year’s Cyclone Michaung dumped 370 mm on Chennai in hours. It killed 47. Damages exceeded INR 10,000 crore. Evacuations topped 20,000.
IMD cyclone warning Tamil Nadu stems from early cyclonic circulations. Systems like Fengal in 2024 spawned from similar setups. National Disaster Response Force positions squads in coastal zones. SMS and app alerts reach millions. State responses sharpened post-Michaung. Early warnings integrate satellite data. Community drills cover 500 villages.
What’s Next: Track and Response
The depression skirts coasts without certain landfall. Deepening to severe stage possible. Rains taper post-October 24. Collectors track hourly. Central assessments follow damages. Bay of Bengal cyclone alert 2025 underscores seasonal perils. Tamil Nadu fortifies defences amid the surge.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 22nd, 2025
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