Cyclone Helen to hit Andhra Padesh coast on Thursday night

Cyclonic storm Helen is expected to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Sriharikota and Ongole Thursday night, said weather bureau.

In its weather bulletin, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Wednesday said the depression over west central Bay of Bengal intensified into deep depression in the morning.

According to the weathermen, Helen lay centred 470 km east-northeast of Chennai, and 320 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

"The system would further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. It would move west-northwestwards for some time, then west-southwestward and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) and Ongole, close to Kavali, around night of 21st November, 2013," the bulletin said.

The weathermen have forecast rain or thundershower over coastal Andhra Pradesh and at a few places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

Squally winds, with speed reaching 55-65 kmph and gusting to 75 kmph, would prevail along and off north Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from Wednesday night, the bulletin said.

The wind speed would gradually increase upto 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph at the time of landfall.