A cyclonic storm named Fengal (pronounced Feinjal) has formed in the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 30, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). A cyclone warning has been issued to north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts.
The storm’s location at 4:37 pm was approximately 260 km east of Nagapattinam, 270 km east-southeast of Puducherry, and 300 km southeast of Chennai. The IMD predicts that the storm will move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, during the afternoon of November 30.
A red alert has been issued to Chennai, Villupuram, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore districts and Puducherry and Karaikal for November 30. Heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rains in some places are expected.
Private weather blogger Pradeep John has warned of “very, very heavy” rainfall in Chennai and Pondicherry, urging “extreme caution”. He also suggested the possibility of continued rainfall until December 1.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea from November 29 to December 5. Those who are at deep sea have been urged to return to land.