The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert as a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is poised to intensify into a cyclonic storm by 8 pm, November 27, 2024.
The system, moving north-northwest at 10 kilometres per hour (kmph), was approximately 110 km east of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka and 530 km south-southeast of Chennai at 11 am on November 27.
If it intensifies into a cyclone, it will be called ‘Fengal’ and is expected to move north-northwestward towards the Tamil Nadu coast, possibly skirting Sri Lanka over the next two days. The cyclone is likely to die down by December 1, 2024. The IMD is monitoring its movement closely through the Doppler Weather Radar at Karaikal.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are set to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extreme downpours on November 27, continuing through to November 30. Coastal Andhra Pradesh will see moderate rainfall with occasional heavy showers today, intensifying to heavy to very heavy rainfall over the following days.
Rayalaseema is likely to witness light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy falls from November 28 to 30, while Kerala may experience similar conditions with heavy falls expected on November 30. Squally winds, currently reaching speeds of 55-65 kmph with gusts of up to 75 kmph over the southwest Bay of Bengal and along the Sri Lankan coast, are forecast to strengthen to 65-75 kmph, gusting to 85 kmph, by evening.
Winds along the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh are also expected to intensify and persist until the morning of November 30. Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough, becoming high in the southwest Bay of Bengal until November 29.
Fishermen have been strongly advised to refrain from venturing into these waters, including along the Sri Lankan and Indian coasts, with those already at sea urged to return immediately.