Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Update on TC "Laila":
The latest position of TC Laila is 14.3N 81.2E, that is 150 Kms. North-East of Chennai.Now,that is the nearest it has got to Chennai,and with the track turning North,it should strike land near Machillipatinum by tonite.
Maximum winds speed at 65Knts,and a core pressure of 986 mb,"Laila"  maintains its Severe cyclone status.
But,after landfall, "Laila" is expected to weaken, and might not even reach the Orissa coast while tracking North-Eastwards.In fact,it is expected to dissipate within 72 hrs of landfall.
So,as Chennai starts clearing up from tomorrow evening,the brunt of the rains will be borne by coastal A.P,but not much penetrating in the interiors of the states.
Today,there was widespread rain in Tamil Nadu.Recording today morning, Chennai recieved 82 mms,Thiruvarur and Musiri 70 mms and various other stations between 30-50 mms.

After the "giant" dies down, and starts weakening,the south-west monsoon winds will re-organise in the Arabian Sea. The regular South-West monsoon moisture flow should start by the 22nd. of May,first into Sri lanka, followed by Kerala. As I discussed earliar,I expect this flow to start initially as a "rebound" to being subdued, and may last on for a few days on Kerala/Karnataka for the time being. The monsoon may take a small pause of 5/6 days at Karnataka coast.
 
TC 02A has also formed in thre Arabian Sea.But, it will have no effect on the Sub-Continent coasts.It will enter the Gulf of Aden.As this gulf is cooled by the Somali current, the TC should weaken rapidly.
Satellite image (10.30pm Wednessday) of both the systems either side of India.



 
Readings as on 19th. May: 
Hottest in Asia: Nawabshah (Pakistan) 49c.
Hottest in India: Akola (Maharashtra): 47.2c
Hottest Nights: Amraoti:33.8c, Chandrapur: 33.6c,Jodhpur: 33c,Khajuraho: 32.3c, Aurangabad: 32.2c,Jabalpur: 32c.(Now i'm not going below 32c).
Mumbai today, Colaba:34.8c, Santa Cruz:33.0c.

Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 14

IMD Warning
---------------------------

ROPICAL STORM ‘LAILA’ ADVISORY NO. TWELVE ISSUED AT 1200 UTC OF
19TH MAY 2010 BASED ON 0900 UTC CHARTS OF 19TH MAY.       
            THE SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM ‘LAILA’ OVER SOUTHWEST AND ADJOINING
 WESTCENTRAL BAY OF BENGAL MOVED NORTHWESTWARDS DURING PAST
 HOURS  AND LAY CENTRED AT 0900 UTC OF TODAY, THE 19TH MAY 2010 OVER
 WESTCENTRAL AND ADJOINING SOUTHWEST BAY OF BENGAL NEAR LATITUDE
14.00N AND LONG. 81.50E, ABOUT 150 KM NORTHEAST OF CHENNAI, 250 KM
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF MACHILIPATNAM AND 500 KM SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF
VISAKHAPATNAM          
            SUSTAINED MAXIMUM SURFACE WIND SPEED IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT
55 KNOTS. THE STATE OF THE SEA IS VERY HIGH AROUND THE SYSTEM CENTRE.
   THE ESTIMATED CENTRAL PRESSURE IS ABOUT 986 HPA.
SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES BANDING PATTERN OF THE SYSTEM. THE INTENSITY
  OF THE SYSTEM IS T3.5 ASSOCIATED BROKEN INTENSE TO VERY INTENSE
CONVECTION OBSERVED OVER THE BAY OF BENGAL BETWEEN LAT. 10.0N TO 18.00 N.
 THE LOWEST CLOUD TOP TEMPERATURE (CTT) DUE TO CONVECTION IS AROUND -900C
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SYSTEM.
VERTICAL WIND SHEAR OF HORIZONTAL WIND OVER THE REGION IS 10-15 KNOTS.
THE SYSTEM LIES TO THE SOUTH OF TROPOSPHERIC RIDGE, WHICH ROUGHLY RUNS
ALONG 170N. SYSTEM IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANTICYCLONIC CIRCULATION
 LOCATED TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE SYSTEM CENTRE. SHEAR TENDENCY OVER
PAST 24 HOURS IS NEGATIVE TO THE NORTH OF THE SYSTEM CENTRE.
            CONSIDERING ALL THE ABOVE AND NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION (NWP)
MODELS GUIDANCE, THE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY FURTHER AND MOVE IN A
NORTHWESTERLY TO NORTHERLY DIRECTION AND CROSS ANDHRA PRADESH COAST
 BETWEEN NELLORE AND KAKINADA, CLOSE TO MACHILIPATNAM BY MORNING OF 20TH MAY 2010.
BASED ON LATEST ANALYSIS WITH NWP MODELS AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES,


Latest satellite shot
----------------------------

Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 13 .. Now a Severe Cyclone

IMD warning
-----------------------------

The cyclonic storm ‘LAILA’ over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards during past 6 hours, intensified into severe cyclonic storm  and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010 over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.50N and long. 81.50E, about 150 km east-northeast of Chennai, 300 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam and 500 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam. 
               The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada, close to Machilipatnam by morning of 20th May 2010.
               Under the influence of this system, widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cms or more) likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 36 hours and in north Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours. Gale force wind with Maximum speed reaching 115-125 kmph likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast at the time of landfall. Squally winds speed reaching 50-60 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during next 24 hours.
               
               Sea condition will be very high to phenomenal along and off Andhra Pradesh coast  during next 36 hoursand very rough along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during next 24 hours. Fishermen are advised not venture into the sea off these coasts.
 
Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna and West  & East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.
 
Damage expected: Extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts. Damage to power and  communication lines due to uprooting of large avenue trees. Flooding of escape routes over Nellore, Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, West & East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts.
 
Action suggested: Total suspension of fishing operation. Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places.  People in affected areas to remains indoors of the above districts.
 
Warning for Orissa and West Bengal: As the system is likely to move northeastwards after landfall across Orissa and West Bengal according to NWP model predictions. The enhanced rainfall activity likely to occur over coastal Orissa and Gangetic West Bengal form 20th May and 21st May respectively for subsequent 48 hours. Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph likely to commence along and off Orissa and West Bengal coast respectively from 20th and 21st May 2010. Fishermen are advised to be cantious while going out into sea off these coasts.
                Next bulletin will be issued at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010.


GFS prediction
--------------------------------
GFS model for next 72 hrs reveals that the Cyclone "laila" will TOUCH or Come close to Andhra coast and then dissipate and move in a North-East direction
Immediately after Cyclone "Laila" 's North-East movement ... here comes the South-West Monsoon crashing over Kerala coast on or after 22-May-2010


Latest satellite shot at 4:30pm IST
-------------------------------------------------

@rajnair84 >> Is it raining there? Is it raining from WEST ??. Pls update. Thanks
While Cyclone "Laila" is moving slowly. South-west coast of Kerala is getting S-W monsoon kind of showers.
Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 12 ... Is it going to be stable for next 36 hrs?? ... http://ow.ly/1MZtO

Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 12 ... Is it going to be stable for next 36 hrs??

While Cyclone "Laila" is moving slowly. South-west coast of Kerala is getting S-W monsoon kind of showers.

JTWC projected path
----------------------------------


JTWC warning
----------------------------

190900Z POSITION NEAR 13.9N 81.3E.
TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 01B (LAILA), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 70 NM
EAST-NORTHEAST OF CHENNAI, INDIA, HAS TRACKED NORTHWESTWARD AT 06
KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. TC 01B HAS MAINTAINED ITS CONVECTIVE
SIGNATURE AS IT BEGINS TO MOVE MORE POLEWARD ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
PERIPHERY OF THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR). THE CURRENT POSITION IS
BASED ON A 190208Z SSMIS MICROWAVE IMAGE SHOWING AN EYE-LIKE FEATURE
AND FROM A RADAR REFLECTIVITY IMAGE FROM CHENNAI. THE CURRENT
INTENSITY IS BASED ON THE HIGH END OF DVORAK ESTIMATES RANGING FROM
45 KNOTS (DEMS AND KNES) TO 65 KNOTS (PGTW). ANIMATED WATER VAPOR
IMAGERY INDICATES GOOD RADIAL OUTFLOW ENHANCED BY AN UPPER-LEVEL
TROUGH OVER EASTERN ASIA. TC 01B IS FORECAST TO TURN NORTHWARD TO
NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AS THE STR RE-ORIENTS IN RESPONSE TO AN 
APPROACHING MID-LATITUDE SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THE AVAILABLE NUMERICAL 
GUIDANCE ARE IN OVERALL GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THIS TRACK WITH WBAR AND
GFS TO THE LEFT AND TCLAPS TO THE RIGHT OF THE ENVELOPE. TC LAILA IS
EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR TAU 36 AND GRADUALLY WEAKEN AS IT
TRACKS ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF INDIA. BY TAU 72, THE SYSTEM WILL
BE BELOW 35-KNOT INTENSITY BEFORE IT DRIFTS INTO NORTHERN BAY OF
BENGAL AND DISSIPATE. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 190600Z IS
15 FEET. NEXT WARNINGS AT 191500Z, 192100Z, 200300Z AND 200900Z


Latest satellite shot at 3pm IST
--------------------------------------------

RT @AuraofDreams: RT: @HeadlinesIndia: Heavy rains lash coastal Andhra as cyclone nears the shore. http://bit.ly/bALI9o news India
Follow TV9 video for latest on Cyclone 'Laila" from Andhra .. http://ping.fm/0GeG9
and Live streaming here .. http://ow.ly/1MZ3f
Laila Cyclone disrupts Andhra Pradesh (News Video) ... http://ow.ly/1MYX7
BBC :: Heavy showers forecast for Chennai till Thursday, 20-May Night.. http://ow.ly/i/1DvZ
According to BBC forecast, Cyclone "laila" persists near N-E Chennai till Friday and then moves North-East .. http://ow.ly/i/1DvX
RT @vattaltimes: Heavy rains lash coastal Andhra as cyclone nears the shore
: http://tinyurl.com/24p3dwp
Chennai - After an hour of heavy drizzle, now 3:04pm we have heavy showers again.

Cyclone Laila may cross AP coast


The South-east Bay of Bengal is now housing tropical cyclone ‘Laila' that lay parked southwest and adjoining east-central Bay around 400 km east-southeast of Chennai on Tuesday afternoon.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said that the current environmental conditions and numerical weather prediction models suggest further intensification of the system.

LANDFALL PROSPECTS

An intensified ‘Laila' would keep moving in a west-northwesterly direction for some more time and then straighten out to hit a more northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam early Thursday.
Analysing various possibilities based on predictions available for next three to four days, it is difficult to foresee whether this system would cause much damage to the prospects of monsoon onset over Kerala, according to Dr Akhilesh Gupta, leading operational forecaster and Adviser to the Department of Science and Technology. There are some important arguments that go to support this, he said.
For one, the monsoon flow over the Arabian Sea is still in the process of building and hence if the system crosses the coast by Thursday/Friday, there is still enough time available for it to evolve and cause onset over Kerala by May 30 as predicted.
Model predictions suggest that even after weakening of ‘Laila', the strength of the southwesterly flow over the Bay remains intact. This would help build the flow over the Arabian Sea subsequently.

ITCZ ACTIVE

Predictions also suggest that the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ, the global band of low pressure hosting low pressure systems) may remain active over the Arabian Sea as well as over the Bay even after ‘Laila' weakens.
This lends credence to hopes for possible formation of an onset vortex-like low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea subsequent to weakening of the cyclone.
However, this is not a strong argument yet as models give no indication of such formation as of now, Dr Gupta clarified.
But Paul Roundy, a leading US-based ocean forecaster, has been signalling the development of a ‘flare-up' in the region around this time.
Prof Roundy has not withdrawn his outlook as on Tuesday. Any positive development, as suggested, would have implications for onset of monsoon over the southwest coast and would be monitored closely.

SPURT OF RAINS

The US National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) maintained its outlook for build-up of rains along the southwest coast during the week ending May 25.
This would continue into the next week as well, with a fresh spurt of rains indicated for the southeast Arabian Sea around the Lakshadweep area.
Meanwhile, the IMD said on Tuesday that ‘Laila' is expected to pack wind speeds of 115 to 125 km/hr gusting to 135 km just before landfall, almost ramping up to ‘Category 1' status on the Saffir-Simpson scale of storm intensity.
The US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) agrees, saying that the system is forecast to intensify over the next 36 hours before making a landfall.
Subsequently, it would gradually weaken along the coastal areas of east India and cross into Bangladesh as a minimal tropical storm.
Other models seem to suggest that the system might re-curve close to the Andhra Pradesh coast and track north to northeastward ahead of an approaching westerly trough expected to deepen over Central India around Thursday.

WIDESPREAD RAIN

In its forecast for the next two days, the IMD said that coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls from Tuesday night.
Gale force winds clocking 65 to 75 km/hr will prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh coast. It may scale up subsequently as the system moves closer to coast.
Squally winds speed reaching 50 to 60 km/hr have been warned of along and off north Tamil Nadu coast as well.
Sea condition will be high to very high along and off Andhra Pradesh coast and very rough along and off north Tamil Nadu coast. Fishermen are advised not venture into the sea.
Monsoon next big trigger for markets .. http://ow.ly/1MXQE
@joesat >> Thanks, Yes, we are in Chennai. Pls send details abt "ideacamp" to contact(at)indianweatherman.com
RT @patnanews: National Buzz: Cyclone Laila strengthens; people evacuated http://bit.ly/9bqO1q
RT @jestinjoy: Its raining here in kottayam. Monsoon or cyclone effect! mallu kerala
1pm, Reports of sharp S-W showers lashing S-W coastal Kerala
Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 11 .. Moving North-West ... http://ow.ly/1MXiZ

Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 11 .. Moving North-West

IMD warning:
-------------------------

The cyclonic storm ‘LAILA’ over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards during past 6 hours  and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010 over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.50N and long. 82.00E, about 190 km east-northeast of Chennai, 320 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam and 480 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam. 
               The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada, close to Machilipatnam by morning of 20th May 2010.
               Under the influence of this system, coastal Andhra Pradesh is likely to experience widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cms or more) during next 36 hours.  Maximum Gale force wind with speed reaching 115-125 kmph likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast at the time of landfall. Squally winds speed reaching 50-60 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during next 24 hours.
               
               Sea condition will be very high to phenomenal along and off Andhra Pradesh coast and very rough along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during next 36 hours. Fishermen are advised not venture into the sea off these coasts.
 
Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna and West  & East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.
 
Damage expected: Extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts. Damage to power and  communication lines due to uprooting of large avenue trees. Flooding of escape routes over Nellore, Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, West & East Godavar and Vishakhapatnam districts.
 
Action suggested: Total suspension of fishing operation. Coastal hutment dwellers to be moved to safer places.  People in affected areas to remains indoors of the above districts.
 
               Next bulletin will be issued at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010.


Latest Satellite shot
------------------------------------

RT @tnewsindia: @ZeeNews india new Cyclone Laila intensifies, may head towards AP ! http://ow.ly/17qerV
RT @khabar24: High Alert As Cyclone Laila Heads For Andhra Coast http://bit.ly/bJytdJ india
RT @iBeingMe: Heavy rains lash coastal north TNadu, cyclone Laila moves towards coast http://bit.ly/cpoacz
RT @pramodthomas09: @zeqox @sreeganga: @jlusujith @binojxavier: Raining in Kochi, trivandrum, Alleppy not in Kannur, not monsoon only Laila
@jothishnair1010 >> Please put a msg if it rains in Trivandrum. As there's possibility of S-W monsoon setting in Early. Thanks
RT @jothishnair1010: Never seen Trivandrum so dark at noon after the solar eclipse. Hope that the rain isn't devastating!
RT @TV9AP: LATEST: Cyclone Laila is 320 kms from Machilipatnam. Likely to hit coast between Kakinada and Nellore by midnight.
RT @piya_scorpio: rain in srinagar, scorching in delhi, 50 deg in jaipur.lashing in Kolkata, 40 deg in Pune and cyclone in chennai..India!
RT @dilipdprabhu: RT @shriki952: cyclone with heavy rains in tamil nadu whereas delhi cries for shade
Chennai - Rainfall so far from 12am, 19-May to 12:54pm is ... 112.5 mm. And still pouring..!!
Chennai - Saidapet, very heavy showers now 12:52pm after a period of drizzle.
RT @JenDelgadoCNN: Tropical Cyclone Laila is battering India's eastern coastline. Expect torrential rain, flooding & strong winds next 48 hr
RT @ShaikMS: Hopefully Laila [cyclone] is not a Party [monsoon] spoiler....
RT @jahadmajeed: Cyclone Laila turns Chennai streets into canals of muddy water!!
Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 10 ... It'll slowly re-curve and move in N-N-W direction from now.. http://ow.ly/1MVPL

Cyclone "01 B" - "Laila" ... Update # 10

JTWC projected path
---------------------------------

JTWC warning
----------------------------

190300Z POSITION NEAR 13.6N 81.7E.
TROPICAL CYCLONE (TC) 01B (LAILA), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 270 NM
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA HAS TRACKED WEST-
NORTHWESTWARD AT 08 KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. TC 01B HAS
CONTINUED TO CONSOLIDATE OVER THE PAST 06 HOURS AND HAS RAPIDLY
INTENSIFIED OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS (35 TO 65 KNOTS). ANIMATED
INFRARED SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTS A CENTRAL DENSE OVERCAST FEATURE. 
AN 182222Z TRMM 37 GHZ IMAGE SHOWS A WELL-DEFINED MICROWAVE EYE 
FEATURE WITH EXCELLENT CONVECTIVE BANDING. THE CURRENT INTENSITY IS 
BASED ON THE HIGH END OF DVORAK ESTIMATES RANGING FROM 45 KNOTS 
(DEMS) TO 65 KNOTS (PGTW). ANIMATED WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES 
GOOD RADIAL OUTFLOW ENHANCED BY AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OVER EASTERN 
ASIA. TC 01B IS TRACKING ALONG THE SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE MID-
LEVEL SUBTROPICAL RIDGE (STR) AND IS FORECAST TO TURN NORTHWARD TO 
NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD AS THE STR RE-ORIENTS IN RESPONSE TO AN 
APPROACHING MIDLATITUDE SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THE AVAILABLE NUMERICAL 
GUIDANCE (NOGAPS, GFS, TC-LAPS, WBAR, EGRR, ECMWF AND GFDN) SUPPORTS 
THIS TRACK AND ALSO INDICATES INCREASING TRACK SPEEDS IN THE EXTENDED
TAUS. LAILA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR TAU 36 AND SHOULD 
WEAKEN BELOW 35 KNOTS BY TAU 72 AS IT TRACKS OVER MOUNTAINOUS 
TERRAIN. THE REMNANTS SHOULD CONTINUE TRACKING NORTHEASTWARD INTO 
NORTHEASTERN INDIA AND BANGLADESH. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT 
AT 190000Z IS 15 FEET. NEXT WARNINGS AT 190900Z AND 191500Z


IMD warning
----------------------------

The cyclonic storm ‘LAILA’ over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal moved slightly northwards and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010 over southwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.50N and long. 82.00E, about 190 km east-northeast of Chennai, 480 km west-southwest of Visakhapatnam and 1200 km southwest of Kolkata.
The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that the system is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam by early hours of 20th May 2010.
Under the influence of this system, north coastal Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls (25cms or more) and isolated extremely heavy falls during next 48 hours. Gale force wind with speed reaching 65-75 kmph likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast during next 48 hours. It may increase to 115-125 kmph at the time of landfall. Squally winds speed reaching 50-60 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu coast during next 24 hours.
Sea condition will be very high to phenomenal along and off Andhra Pradesh coast and very rough along and off north Tamil Nadu coast. Fishermen are advised not venture into the sea off these coasts.
Next bulletin will be issued at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 19th May 2010.



Chennai:
----------------
 From evening of 18-May till 8:30am of 19-May, Chennai has recorded 8.19 CM of Rainfall. And till now 12:27pm rainfall is continuing.
Rainrate will reduce towards late evening as "Laila" re-curves and moves North-North-East.

Satellite shot at 11:30am IST
-----------------------------------------


Image of "Laila" as on 08.00 IST on 19th. May:
Moving at present as per estimated direction, with core winds at 50 knts. 

Will get nearer to Chennai in the next 2/4 hrs, before re-curving.
Sat. shot at 7:30am, shows cyclone "LAILA" has moved more in a W-N-W direction towards chennai & S. Andhra.. http://ping.fm/d5HoC
Chennai - steady sharp showers continue even now 8:07am with occasional high winds. Cyclone "LAILA" moving in a W-N-W direction.

Lyila

Lyila 19 May 2010 / 0715 hrs IST.
[1] It is now 13.4 Deg North / 82.2 Degree East
[Just NE of Chennai] south-south west of Vizagapatinam
[2] The system is moving west-NW ward.
[3] Chennai can expect another spell.

Lyila eye


19 MAY 2010 / 0432 hrs IST;
{1} The EYE of LYILA is seen Norh-NE of Chennai

{2} The RED Thunder clouds is approching south of Chennai from NWly direction which is embeded in one of the spirals.

{3} This will give moderate to heavy rainfall in another one tour time from now. [0435 hrs IST]

{4} The system may cross AP to day



Cyclone "laila" - Is it nearing Chennai ?? take a look at sat shot taken at 2am .. http://ping.fm/V2IZN
chennai - heavy showers with thunder & high winds
chennai - heavy showers lashing chennai now 3:04am