Shortly after 06:00 UTC (11:30 local time) on Friday 22 November, Tropical Cyclone Helen (04B) made landfall as a weak tropical storm over the low-lying district of Krishna, located on south eastern Indian coastal state of Andhra Pradesh, close to the port town of Machilipatnam (population ~180,000) bringing heavy rainfall to the landfall region. Shortly prior to landfall at 06:00 UTC on Friday 22 November, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that the center of Helen was located close to 16.2N 81.3E, approximately 200 mi (325 km) southeast of the state capital Hyderbad.

At this time the storm had maximum sustained wind speeds of 40 mph (65 km/h), the equivalent of a weak tropical storm on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS), and was moving west at 8 mph (13 km/h). Under the final JTWC advisory at 06:00 UTC, Helen is forecast to continue tracking west over Andhra Pradesh and is expected to weaken significantly and dissipate over land over the next 12 hours.

Damage reports from the landfall region are limited at this time, though the Indian weather office has warned of possible widespread damage to thatched roofs and huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to uprooted trees, in addition to crop damage, and flooding from heavy rainfall.

According to reports, the coastal districts of Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari have been put on high alert and many people are being evacuated from low-lying areas to relief camps. The economy of Andhra Pradesh is mainly focused on agriculture.

In India, life and non-life insurance penetration is low, though on a regional basis, India has one of the leading non-life markets in Asia. RMS is continuing to monitor the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Helen and will update this Cat Activity tomorrow, Saturday 23 November.

Source - http://www.reactionsnet.com/