Cyclone Ditwah: Tracking Path, Landfall Date, and Impact on South Indian States

Cyclone Ditwah is projected to make landfall on November 30.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala on Friday as cyclonic storm 'Ditwah' approaches. The cyclone is expected to reach land on November 30.

The weather system is currently situated over coastal Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. According to IMD forecasts, it will likely advance to the southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and neighboring south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30.

Ditwah marks the third cyclone to form in the Bay following the October-November monsoon season.

The IMD has issued a Cyclone Alert (Orange Message) for north Tamil Nadu & Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts, as Cyclonic Storm Ditwah continues to move over coastal Sri Lanka and the southwestern Bay of Bengal.

The name "Ditwah" translates to "lagoon" and was contributed by Yemen as part of the established cyclone naming convention. It specifically refers to the Detwah Lagoon located on Socotra Island in Yemen, renowned for its distinctive coastal ecosystem.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and UN ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones utilize a pre-approved naming system with contributions from member countries. "Ditwah" represents Yemen's coastal heritage within this international naming framework.

As of Friday morning at 5:30 AM, Ditwah was moving north-northwestward at 7 kmph over the past 6 hours. The IMD reported its position over the same region, near latitude 8.2°N and longitude 81.1°E, approximately 50 km southwest of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 90 km northwest of Batticaloa (Sri Lanka), 230 km north of Hambantota (Sri Lanka), 440 km south-southeast of Puducherry (India), and 540 km south of Chennai (India).

The cyclone is expected to maintain its north-northwestern trajectory across the Sri Lankan coast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.

The IMD has forecast significant weather impacts, with Cyclone Ditwah set to bring severe conditions to South India in the coming days. Tamil Nadu faces the most immediate threat, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy showers predicted for today (November 28) continuing through November 30.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema will also experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated downpours anticipated around November 30.

Additionally, Kerala, Mahe, South Interior Karnataka, and Telangana should prepare for isolated heavy rainfall and widespread thunderstorms over the next few days, according to the IMD. These regions are also likely to experience thunderstorms and lightning during this period.