Widespread rains have been forecast for the next two days over coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry as the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified Saturday.

The Weather Office in Chennai said the deep depression now lay 550 km southeast of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and it was moving in a west northwesterly direction. It was still early to predict where the system would cross, it said.

Under the influence of the new system, widespread rains, including isolated heavy showers, have been forecast over coastal Tamil Nadu in the next 48-hours beginning at 8.30 am Saturday.

Winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph were also likely during the period.

In the metropolis, which could also experience few rain spells, the surface winds would be strong and gusty.

Since the condition of the sea was likely to be rough, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.