Authorities have hoisted Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 at nine ports across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclone on Monday, according to officials.
The ports displaying the preliminary warning signal are Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, Cuddalore, Thoothukudi, Pamban, Nagapattinam, Puducherry and Karaikal. The warning comes amid strong winds and forecasts of further intensification of the weather system over the next two days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area on Saturday. The system was expected to strengthen into a depression and subsequently a deep depression on Sunday before developing into a cyclone on Monday, while moving west-northwestwards.
The system is forecast to intensify further as it advances across the Bay of Bengal towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. It may cross the coast near Andhra Pradesh on the morning of October 28, although the precise timing and location of landfall remain subject to further forecasts.
Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 is an early-stage alert indicating the presence of a weather disturbance with conditions favourable for cyclone formation. It is intended to keep vessels, port authorities and other maritime stakeholders informed about the evolving weather situation.
The signal does not necessarily mean that the port displaying it will be directly affected by the approaching system. Instead, it serves as a preliminary warning, alerting maritime operators to the possibility of deteriorating weather conditions in the surrounding region.
Ports use a recognised system of 11 numbered warning signals to communicate the nature and severity of potential weather-related threats. These visual warnings help vessels and port users monitor changing conditions and take appropriate precautions.
During daylight hours, the signals are displayed using cone-shaped structures made of bamboo, while coloured lights are used after dark to communicate the designated warning.
With the system expected to strengthen and move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, port authorities and maritime operators will continue to monitor weather updates and any changes in the warning status.