The southwest Bay of Bengal is witnessing intensified activity as a deep depression is on track to evolve into Cyclone Fengal by Wednesday warned the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This system is expected to unleash heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh over the next three days.

In anticipation of severe weather, authorities in Tamil Nadu have announced holidays for schools and colleges in districts including Trichy, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Thiruvallur. A rain holiday for schools was also declared in Chennai. 

Chennai and nearby regions, including Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur, witnessed intermittent rainfall ranging from mild to heavy on Tuesday. Coastal areas like Cuddalore and the Cauvery delta regions, including Nagapattinam, recorded substantial rainfall.

On Tuesday, Chennai recorded an average rainfall of 5.35 cm within city limits, with the highest concentration in Manali New Town at 13.31 cm. Other regions such as Nagapattinam (11 cm), Mayiladuthurai (8.9 cm), Chengelpet (8.4 cm), and Tiruvarur (7.9 cm) experienced significant showers.

Cyclone Fengal Formation

As of Wednesday morning, the deep depression was situated over the southwest Bay of Bengal at latitude 8.2°N and longitude 82.4°E, approximately 130 km east-southeast of Trincomalee, 400 km southeast of Nagapattinam, 510 km southeast of Puducherry, and 590 km south-southeast of Chennai.

Moving north-northwest at 13 kmph, the system is projected to intensify into a cyclonic storm within 12 hours and is expected to approach the Tamil Nadu coast while skirting the Sri Lankan coastline. Continuous monitoring is underway using Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Karaikal to track its progression.

The Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved nearly northwards with a speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hours IST of yesterday, the 26th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 7.5°N and longitude 82.6°E, about 190 km southeast of… pic.twitter.com/HlrUed0v40

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 26, 2024

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TN CM Reviews Precautionary Measures

Chief Minister MK Stalin conducted a high-level review at the Secretariat in Chennai emphasising preparedness.

A total of 17 disaster response teams, comprising National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and state personnel, have been dispatched to vulnerable areas such as Chennai, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur districts.

Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin also inspected the canals in Chennai and advised officials to carry out maintenance work in order to avoid waterlogging in the city.