Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rainfall as deep depression likely to intensify into cyclonic storm

Chennai: The deep depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm (Fengal) today, bringing “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh.

Currently moving with a speed of ten kilometres and lay centered 190 km south east of Trincomalee, 470 km south east of Nagapattinam and 580 km south southeast of Puducherry and 670 km south south east of Chennai.

In India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, said, In an early morning update on Wednesday, the weather department said the deep depression was centred about 190 km southeast of Trincomalee, 580 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 670 km south-southeast of Chennai.

The system is likely to move north northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm today and will further move north northwest wards towards Tamilnadu Coast alongside Srilanka Coast for the next 48 hours.

The system in the Bay of Bengal has been moving at a pace between 14 to 10 and eight kms per hour and is likely to hover around close to the land without making a landfall according to the present condition which is likely to result in continuous extremely heavy to heavy and moderate rainfall throughout the State.

Due to the prevailing situation, Educational institutions in 14 districts have been closed due to the advent of Cyclone Fengal. The delta districts and some coastal areas are likely to receive more than 20 cms of rainfall for the next 48 hours. District Collectors have been asked to monitor the weather condition and take necessary precautions.

DRF Teams and SDRF teams have been alerted and kept ready to meet any eventualities in vulnerable areas. Strong winds reaching with wind speed 55km perhour to 65 km perhour gusting upto 75 kmph is likely to prevail over the Coastal areas adjoining Comorin area and Gulf of Mannar for the next two days.

People living in low lying areas have been asked to move to safer areas. A control room has been set up at Chennai to monitor and pass on the necessary suggestions to coordinate and take immediate action by the District authorities