Tropical Cyclone Nivar (04B) strengthened over the Bay of Bengal near Southeast India on Tuesday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Nivar was located at latitude 10.8°N and longitude 82.6°E which put it about 235 miles (380 km) southeast of Chennai India. Nivar was moving toward the northwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Nivar strengthened to almost the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon over the Bay of Bengal near Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. More thunderstorms developed near the center of Nivar. Other strong thunderstorms were occurring in bands north and west of the center of circulation. Bands south and east of the center consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away to the north and west of the tropical cyclone. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 110 miles (175 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Nivar will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Nivar will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move under the western end of an upper level ridge over the Bay of Bengal. The ridge will enhance the upper level divergence and contribute to the removal of mass, which will cause the surface pressure to decrease. Tropical Cyclone Nivar will intensify into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Nivar will move around the western part of a high pressure system over Bay of Bengal. The high will steer Nivar toward the northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Nivar will make landfall on the coast of India between Puducherry and Chennai in about 24 hours. Nivar will bring strong winds to southern India. Wind blowing water toward the coast will cause a storm surge of up to 6 feet (2 meters). Tropical Cyclone Nivar will drop heavy rain over parts of Tamil Nadu and flash floods could occur.