Cyclone Nivar would hit a West-North-West track initially before shifting to the North-West to approach for the landfall. The IMD expects it to cross the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Puducherry by Wednesday evening as a very severe cyclone with wind speeds of 120-130 km/hr gusting to 145 km/hr.

Global forecasts valid till 4.30 pm on Tuesday showed moderate to heavy rain over Sriharikota, Pulicat, Chennai, Ramapuram, Mamallapuram, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, and Velankanni along the South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Tamil Nadu coasts. Heavier thunderstorms were waiting to strike all along the stretch even as parts of adjoining interior have also started receiving rain.

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