at 3:15 PM by Mallory Schnell

India Braces for Cyclone Hudhud

Mass evacuations are continuing to take place as Cylcone Hudhud heads toward the southeastern coast of India. The Indian Meteorological Department has classified this cyclone as “very severe” and has predicted that 120 mph winds will be experienced as a result of this storm. Hudhud is expected to make landfall and affect the states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. Severe sea conditions could bring storm surge of up to two meters (about 6.5 feet) to low-lying areas. Because the strength of this cyclone has increased over the past few days, authorities have the Indian Navy and disaster relief teams on standby. According to the BBC, over 150,000 people have evacuated the state of Andhra Pradesh, and more are expected to move inland as the cyclone approaches the coast.