A deep depression hovering over the Bay of Bengal may intensify into a cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning and is likely to cross the north Tamil Nadu coast and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh by October 31 midnight, the Met office said.

The deep depression lay over the southwest Bay of Bengal, about 550 km south-southeast of Chennai and 200 km east-northeast of Trincomalee. If it intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it would be the season’s first cyclone to strike the State.

The storm is expected to move west-southwestwards towards Trincomalee and eventually northwestwards.

It is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore on October 31 midnight. Several parts of the State have already started experiencing squally winds.While Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Puducherry have started receiving rain, other districts are likely to receive moderate to heavy rain in the next two days.