IMD Issues Rare Alert on Two Potential Cyclones Approaching Indian Coast

In a rare and ominous alert that has meteorologists on high alert, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a stark warning on Tuesday about two brewing weather beasts in the Indian Ocean—one over the Strait of Malacca and another in the southwest Bay of Bengal—that could spawn twin cyclones, unleashing chaos across southern India’s vulnerable coastal belts. As of mid-morning on November 25, the first system had already roared to life as a full-fledged depression, just 90 kilometers west of Malaysia’s George Town, while the second was gathering steam off the Comorin region, threatening to mirror its fury.

The Malacca menace, born from a low-pressure swirl over Malaysia, has been charging westwards at a clip, positioned 720 kilometers east-southeast of Nancowry in the Nicobar Islands and 850 kilometers from Car Nicobar. IMD forecasters predict it will keep intensifying over the next 24 hours before veering west-northwest, potentially earning the fierce name Cyclone Senyar if it escalates into a cyclonic storm— a designation drawn from the global naming pool of the World Meteorological Organization and UN partners. But the real terror lies in the transition: depressions must deepen into severe storms, and along the way, expect brutal thunderstorms, lightning strikes, and downpours that could turn roads into rivers overnight.

Meanwhile, the Bay of Bengal bully is no slouch, already embedded over the southwest waters adjoining southern Sri Lanka and the Equatorial Indian Ocean, primed to morph into a well-marked low-pressure area within 24 hours and then a depression soon after, tracking north-northwest like a heat-seeking missile toward India’s shores. This dual threat—twin systems feeding off each other’s energy in the warm November seas—could deliver a one-two punch of destruction, with winds howling up to 40-50 kmph battering the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the next six days straight, forcing islanders to batten down the hatches against potential evacuations and power blackouts.

Also Read: IMD Warns of Cyclone Senyar Formation; South India Braces for Heavy Rains

Southern states are squarely in the crosshairs, with Tamil Nadu braced for a relentless barrage of heavy rains through November 27, escalating to very heavy deluges from November 28 to 30 that could flood Chennai’s bustling streets and wipe out coastal crops. Kerala and the tiny enclave of Mahe face a similar soaking until November 26, while the Andaman and Nicobar chain stares down very heavy showers from November 26 to 28, risking landslides on those lush, steep terrains. Even coastal Andhra Pradesh isn’t spared, with thunderstorms and lightning forecast for November 27-28, culminating in very heavy rain on the 30th— a holiday-season spoiler that could strand millions and cripple fishing fleets already battered by fuel costs and rough seas.

As IMD’s X post lit up social media with urgent calls to action, emergency teams across the region are scrambling to stockpile sandbags, deploy rescue boats, and drill evacuation routes, knowing full well that twin cyclones could multiply the misery of past disasters like Cyclone Gaja or Amphan. Fishermen have been ordered to steer clear of open waters, and schools in vulnerable districts may shutter early, but experts warn the real wildcard is climate change supercharging these storms with warmer oceans and erratic patterns. For now, South India holds its breath—will this be a glancing blow or the flood of the century?

Also Read: IMD Puts Andaman & Nicobar on High Alert as Cyclonic System Intensifies