VISAKHAPATNAM: The severe cyclonic storm Murasu moved north-northwestwards and crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, between 3.30 am and 5.30 am on Tuesday, with wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph.The cyclone triggered heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, uprooted trees and electric poles, caused power outages and communication disruptions, and damaged roads in parts of Prakasam, Palnadu, Bapatla and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh, as well as other parts of the state.Heavy spells of rainfall are likely to continue over south coastal Andhra Pradesh till Tuesday evening.Kothapatnam in Prakasam district recorded 16.4 cm of rainfall between 8.30 am on Monday and 5 am on Tuesday, followed by 11.4 cm in Naguluppalapadu (Prakasam), 10 cm in Chirala (Bapatla), 9.3 cm in Pelluru (Prakasam), 9.2 cm in Throvagunta (Prakasam), 8.5 cm each in ANGR Agriculture College (Bapatla) and Santhanuthlapdu (Prakasam), 8 cm in Bapatla, 7.9 cm in Mogallthur (West Godavari), 7.7 cm in Pakala (Prakasam), 7.5 cm in Chilakapdu (Prakasam) and 7.4 cm in Malikipuram (Konaseema).The weather system is likely to move north-northwestwards and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm, with wind speeds reaching 80-90 kmph and gusting to 100 kmph, by Tuesday afternoon. It is likely to further weaken into a deep depression, with wind speeds reaching 55-65 kmph and gusting to 75 kmph, by midnight on Tuesday.A storm surge of about 1.0-1.5 metres above the astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low-lying areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next few hours. The maximum peak surge is expected over Bapatla, as well as Krishna and Prakasam districts. It is likely to gradually decrease thereafter, becoming less than 0.5 metres by noon.
