Decoded: Wind speed to extent of damage, things to know about Cyclone Nivar

So what are the key features of this cyclone and what could be its impact. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has an assessment

The severe Cyclone Nivar over the Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards on Wednesday morning at a speed of 11 km per hour, and lay centred over southwest Bay of Bengal about 240 km east-southeast of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu — some 250 km east southeast of Puducherry and 300 km south-southeast of Chennai.  

Nivar, which has intensified into a “very severe cyclone”, is projected to cross Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram between the midnight of November 25 and the early hours of November 26 at a wind speed of 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph.

So