Authorities on Sunday sounded an alert in Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Tamil Nadu as cyclonic storm ‘Vardah’ over the Bay of Bengal has turned into a “very severe” one.

According to Indian Meterorological Department, the storm is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast by Monday afternoon with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph, gussing to 100 kmph.

According to IMD, ‘Vardah’ over west central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal moved further westwards and lay centred at 530 hours over west central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal about 520 km east-southeast of Nellore, 490 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam and 480 km east-northeast of Chennai.

Control rooms opened in Vijayawada;Necessary personnel positioned in coastal mandals;5NDRF teams moved;Monitoring situation closely.

Cyclonic storm Vardah over west central & adjoining south Bay of Bengal moved further west-northwestwards during past 6hrs with 20kmph speed, the IMD said.