IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025: Heavy Rainfall, Strong Winds, and Coastal Evacuations Across South India

🌪️ IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025: South India Braces for Impact

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Cyclone Montha 2025, a severe cyclonic storm brewing over the Bay of Bengal. The system, which intensified rapidly into a severe cyclone, is expected to make landfall between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam along the Andhra Pradesh coast. The alert has triggered large-scale evacuations, closure of schools, and suspension of fishing activities across multiple coastal districts.

This marks the fifth major weather event of 2025, highlighting the increasing unpredictability of India’s monsoon and tropical systems — a growing concern for disaster management authorities and coastal residents alike.

---

📍 What is Cyclone Montha?

Cyclone Montha formed over the east-central Bay of Bengal, gradually intensifying as it moved northwestward due to warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear. The IMD classified it as a “Severe Cyclonic Storm” under Category-2 intensity, packing winds up to 110–120 km/h with gusts touching 130 km/h.

Key Meteorological Details

• Origin: East-Central Bay of Bengal
• Current Intensity: Severe Cyclonic Storm
• Expected Landfall: Near Andhra Pradesh–Odisha coast
• Wind Speed: 110–130 km/h gusts
• Rainfall Forecast: 200 mm+ in coastal areas
• Alert Type: Red (Severe Risk to Life & Property)

According to the IMD, Cyclone Montha’s trajectory is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana between October 28–31, 2025. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)

---

🚨 Red Alert Explained: What It Means

A Red Alert is the highest level of warning issued by IMD. It means:

“Take immediate action — extremely heavy rainfall and hazardous weather conditions are expected.”

Under a red alert, citizens are advised to:

• Stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel.
• Move to safer shelters if living in low-lying coastal regions.
• Follow evacuation advisories issued by local authorities.
• Keep emergency kits (water, medicines, torch, dry food) ready.

---

🏖️ States on High Alert

Andhra Pradesh:

The state is at the epicenter of Cyclone Montha’s path. Over 3,700 villages have been placed under high alert, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams deployed in sensitive districts like Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, and East Godavari.
Fishing operations have been suspended, and ports have hoisted danger signals. Schools and colleges in coastal areas remain closed.

Odisha:

Though not directly in the cyclone’s path, north coastal Odisha is expected to receive heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds up to 90 km/h. Evacuation drills are underway in Ganjam, Puri, and Kendrapara.

Tamil Nadu & Telangana:

Both states are witnessing intense rainfall and gusty winds due to Montha’s outer bands. Chennai and Nellore have recorded over 120 mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
The Tamil Nadu government has opened temporary relief centers and suspended public transport in some districts. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)

---

🌧️ IMD’s Rainfall Forecast (Region-Wise)

Region	Rainfall Intensity	Expected Period
Andhra Pradesh	Very Heavy to Extremely Heavy	Oct 28–30
Odisha	Heavy to Very Heavy	Oct 29–31
Tamil Nadu	Moderate to Heavy	Oct 28–30
Telangana	Isolated Heavy	Oct 29–31

---

🧭 Government Response and Preparedness

Central Government:

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) has held multiple meetings to assess preparedness. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are on standby with rescue vessels and aircraft for relief operations.

State Governments:

• Emergency control rooms have been activated across affected states.
• Over 60,000 people have been moved to cyclone shelters in Andhra Pradesh.
• Power supply and communication lines in coastal districts are being reinforced.
• The Ministry of Power has dispatched special teams to restore electricity after landfall.

The IMD has also deployed Doppler weather radars and real-time satellite monitoring to track the storm’s progress. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)

---

🌊 Impact on Daily Life and Economy

Cyclone Montha has already disrupted rail and air traffic in southern and eastern India. Several trains bound for Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar have been cancelled, while flights to coastal airports are being diverted.

The agriculture sector faces the biggest threat — with paddy, maize, and banana crops at risk of flooding. Fishermen have been advised to stay off the sea for at least 72 hours.

Economically, the cyclone may cause short-term losses to coastal trade and fishing communities, while also impacting power generation and logistics in the region. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)

---

🔮 Expert Insights and Future Impact

Climate experts believe Cyclone Montha highlights the increasing frequency of intense tropical systems due to climate change and warming oceans.

“The Bay of Bengal has seen a 20% rise in severe cyclones over the past decade,” says Dr. R. Mishra, a meteorologist at IIT Bhubaneswar.
“Cyclone Montha shows the need for coastal resilience programs and climate-smart infrastructure.”

The IMD’s early warning systems have improved significantly since Cyclone Phailin (2013) and Fani (2019), helping authorities minimize casualties through timely alerts and community preparedness.

In the coming days, experts expect Montha to weaken as it moves inland, but flooding and landslides may continue in hilly regions for several days post-landfall. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)

---

📡 What’s Next?

IMD will continue to issue hourly updates on Cyclone Montha’s track, intensity, and rainfall patterns. Citizens are advised to rely only on official government sources for weather alerts and avoid social media rumors.

Authorities may extend the red alert or downgrade it depending on the cyclone’s weakening trend after landfall. (IMD Red Alert for Cyclone Montha 2025)