Cyclonic Storm Nivar Nears Indian Coast

Cyclonic Storm Nivar is poised to hit the southeast coast of India. By Wednesday it is expected to hit near the state of Tamil Nadu.

Officials announced that Wednesday will be a public holiday due to the expected impact of the storm. Only essential workers will report to work.

Cyclone warnings have been issued off the coast of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Sri Lanka.

The storm has the potential to bring 200 mm of rain to areas such as Pondicherry and wind gusts to 100 km/h.

On November 22, an area of low pressure formed in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Tamil Nadu.

It intensified into a depression in the early hours of November 23. In the early hours of November 24, it intensified into a cyclonic storm and it was named Nivar.

The JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert early on November 22 and according to them, it intensified into a tropical storm which was unofficially designated as Tropical Cyclone 04B.