Cyclone Fengal: A high alert has been sounded for coastal areas including Chennai city and its suburbs which have been experiencing widespread rainfall since Tuesday morning and are under a yellow alert.
In line with the forecast of a brewing cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said heavy rains will continue to lash coastal Tamil Nadu in the next 48 hours. Cyclonic storm is also predicted to move towards the coast of the state.
As per the weather watchdog's latest post on X, "The Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved slowly north-northwestwards with a speed of 3 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 1730 hours IST of today, the 27th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 8.9°N and longitude 82.1°E, about 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee, 320 km southeast of Nagappattinam, 420 km southeast of Puducherry and 500 km south-southeast of Chennai."
"It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards skirting Sri Lanka coast and intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. Thereafter, it will continue to move north-northwestwards and reach near north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts as a deep depression around morning of 30th November", they added.
A high alert has been sounded for coastal areas including Chennai city and its suburbs which have been experiencing widespread rainfall since Tuesday morning and are under a yellow alert.
Besides Tamil Nadu heavy rainfall are affecting neighbouring regions of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
Rains continued overnight in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta areas, affecting standing paddy crops. "Rains submerged crops, partially and completely, at several places including those in and around Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, Mayilduthurai, Vedaranyam and according to farmers' rough estimates, crops over at least 2,000 acres were affected,'' PTI said.
India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said, "Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely in a few places in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts, also part of the delta region," the PTI quoted.
Schools in Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts, along with educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal, remained closed due to heavy rains.
An orange alert has also been issued for six northern and delta districts, prompting authorities in Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore to declare holidays for schools and colleges, as per reports.
According to weathermen, deep depression is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm on November 27 and heavy to very heavy rain at a few places and extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts.
Meanwhile air travel has been affected with most flights getting delayed. Indigo Airlines on X, "Due to adverse weather conditions, flights to/fro m Chennai, Tuticorin, and Madurai continue to be impacted, while Tiruchirappalli and Salem might now also be affected.
"We are holding onto hope for clear skies and for our operations to return to normal soon. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time" Indigo posted on X.