Indian officials are warning fishermen to cease operations and people in vulnerable coastal dwellings to move farther inland in the nation's south, where the cyclone Nilam is expected to make landfall later Wednesday.

India's Meteorological Department said the storm is expected to come ashore near the city of Chennai with winds approaching 90 to 100 kilometers an hour. Forecasters say it could bring a storm surge of one to one-and-a-half meters to low-lying coastal areas in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The weather agency said residents should expect possible minor damage to power and communication lines, flooding of escape routes, and possibly extensive damage to thatched roofs and huts.

The agency is predicting rain, at times heavy, for the region for the next several days.