Cyclone Ditwah: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday that Cyclonic Ditwah, which formed from a deep depression near the coast of Sri Lanka, has started moving north-northwestward over the Sri Lankan coast and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal.
The cyclone is expected to move towards Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Ditwah is the third cyclone to form in the Bay during the October-November post-monsoon season.
At least 56 people are dead, and 21 are missing in Sri Lanka after floods and landslides destroyed homes. Nearly 44,000 affected as Cyclone Ditwah nears. Red flood alerts issued for Colombo and the Kelani River valley.
At least 56 people are dead and 21 missing in Sri Lanka after floods and landslides destroyed homes.
Nearly 44,000 affected as Cyclone Ditwah nears.
Red flood alerts issued for Colombo and Kelani River valley. #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/VLceC0MppE
— BPI News (@BPINewsOrg) November 28, 2025
When and where will the cyclone make landfall?
Cyclone Ditwah is expected to make landfall between northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh between the evening of November 29 and the morning of November 30.
The cyclone is expected to have widespread impacts, and its effects will be felt in several states, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, on November 30.
Cyclonic Storm Ditwah [Pronunciation: Ditwah] over coastal Sri Lanka & adjoining southwestBay of Bengal: Cyclone Alert for north Tamil Nadu & Puducherry andadjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts (Orange Message)
The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah [Pronunciation: Ditwah] over coastalSri… pic.twitter.com/5tws6Xm4F5
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 28, 2025
Where is the cyclone now?
The weather agency said Cyclone Ditvaah moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 10 kmph over the past six hours and was centered at 8:30 am today over the same area, near latitude 8.3°N and longitude 81.0°E, about 40 km southwest of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 100 km northwest of Batticaloa (Sri Lanka), 320 km south-southeast of Karaikal (India), 430 km south-southeast of Puducherry (India), and 530 km south of Chennai (India).
It is very likely to continue moving north-northwestwards across the Sri Lankan coast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, and reach the southwest Bay of Bengal near north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the morning of November 30.
Impact of Cyclone ‘Ditwah’
Flood in Srilanka— Odisha Weatherman (@OdishaWeather7) November 27, 2025
IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in 5 states
The IMD said that due to the impact of Cyclonic Storm Ditvaah, heavy to hefty rainfall is likely in Tamil Nadu during November 27-30, with hefty rainfall at isolated places on November 28 and 29.
Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Thoothukudi, and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu are on the IMD’s orange alert for heavy rainfall.
Sivaganga, Tenkasi, and Virudhunagar are on a yellow alert tomorrow.
(With agency input)