Cyclone Nilam starts moving. 250 kms from coast. Landfall 5 pm

Pressure  :::  982mb
Wind  ::  100 km/hr
Striking distance to Cuddalore/Pondicherry

The cyclone is 270 kilometres away from Chennai. It is expected to make landfall by 5 pm. Cyclone Nilam is heading northwest to cross anywhere between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh during the next few hours.

The Met official also warned that destructive winds and rains unleashed by the cyclone are likely to disrupt daily lives in Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh.

Heavy to very heavy rain is expected during the next 24 to 48 hours at many places in Tamil Nadu with widespread moderate rain over most of the places in the state. South Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka would also be affected by the cyclone as many places would receive rain with heavy spells at a few places during the next couple days.

As per the Met officials, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Tanjavaur, Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore, Pondicherry, Villupuram, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Tiruvallur districts in Tamil Nadu and Nellore, Chittor, Anantapur, Cuddapa and Kurnool districts in Andhra Pradesh will be the most affected by the cyclone.