Why Cyclone Michaung's approach to Andhra coast is so unusual

Tropical Cyclone Michaung made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, specifically in Bapatla district between Nellore and Machilipatnam, on Tuesday, December 5, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announcement on Monday evening, December 4.

The storm, situated approximately 80 km southeast of Nellore and 120 km north-northeast of Chennai by 5:30 pm on Monday, was moving northward along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Its impact included heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, and southern Odisha.

This cyclone occurrence in December is considered atypical due to the usual absence of storms with high intensity during this period. The IMD initially anticipated Michaung to remain a ‘tropical cyclone’ upon crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast but elevated its status to that of a ‘severe’ storm on Sunday, exhibiting wind speeds ranging from 88 kph to 166 kph. IMD experts highlighted the distinctive nature of such intensification during December, attributing it to the unusually high heat index off the southern Andhra Pradesh coast.