Cyclone Ward' has weakened into a deep depression and is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam early on Tuesday, said Meteorological Department officials. Only light showers are expected in Chennai.

The depression on Sunday evening was positioned at 9.0 degrees latitude and 83.0 degrees longitude, 400 km south-east of Nagapattinam and 400 km east of Pamban near Rameswaram.

The weather office officials said the system was likely to move in a west-south-westerly direction and cross north Sri Lanka coast in the early hours of Monday. Ward, they added, was then expected to enter the Gulf of Mannar and cross the south Tamil Nadu coast between Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam on Tuesday morning.

Due to the effect of the system, isolated heavy to very heavy rain is likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 48 hours. Rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls is also likely over south-coastal Tamil Nadu during the same period.

The sea condition is expected to be very rough along and off the south Tamil Nadu coast as well as the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. From Saturday night, Nagapattinam district received heavy rains. Due to the cyclone, danger signal number three had been hoisted at the port.

"As the depression will pass through Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam, Chennai will not have much rains. Light or thunder showers can be expected in the city," said an official.

With a third cyclone warning being issued for Rameswaram, the sea remained rough on Sunday and the day cloudy with a slight drizzle continuing throughout the day. Strong winds resulted in the some of the boats anchored off the coast getting damaged due to collision with one another and fishermen were no allowed to venture into the sea.

In Nagapattinam, a 120-member anti-disaster task Force arrived from Arakkonam to meet any eventuality caused by the cyclone, when it crosses the coast. Fishermen and coastal residents have been given a set of instructions to prepare them for potential disaster. A round-the-clock control room is also functioning.

Fishermen in 206 fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam stayed off the sea for the third consecutive day as heavy rains lashed the coastal district on Sunday. Strong winds in the coastal areas kept the residents worried.

Source: TOI