Cyclone Ditwah the third cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal after the October–November monsoon season is expected to make landfall on November 30, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue widespread weather alerts for southern India.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms and lightning, across Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala as the storm intensifies over the next two days.
Where the Cyclone Is Now
As of 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Cyclone Ditwah was positioned over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, moving north-northwest at 7 kmph.
According to the IMD, the storm’s center was located:
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50 km southwest of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka)
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90 km northwest of Batticaloa (Sri Lanka)
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230 km north of Hambantota (Sri Lanka)
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440 km south-southeast of Puducherry
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540 km south of Chennai
The system is expected to continue tracking north-northwest across the Sri Lankan coast into the southwest Bay of Bengal, nearing North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning on November 30.
What “Ditwah” Means
The name Ditwah was proposed by Yemen under the WMO–ESCAP naming convention for tropical cyclones. The word means “lagoon”, and specifically refers to the famed Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island an ecologically unique coastal landscape known for its pristine waters and rich biodiversity.
Rainfall Forecast for South India
The IMD warns that the approaching storm will significantly influence weather patterns across several states:
Tamil Nadu
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Heavy to very heavy rainfall
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Isolated extremely heavy showers today (Nov 28) through Nov 30
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Chennai and coastal districts likely to receive intense downpours
Andhra Pradesh, Yanam & Rayalaseema
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Heavy to very heavy rain
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Isolated intense rainfall around Nov 30
Kerala, Mahe, South Interior Karnataka & Telangana
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Isolated heavy rain
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Widespread thunderstorms with lightning over the next few days
Officials said the storm’s movement is being continuously monitored, with updated alerts expected as the system intensifies toward landfall.
