Cyclone Fani set to hit TN, Puducherry in next 48 hours: IMD

The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) today issued a red alert for coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on 30 April (Tuesday) and 1 May (Wednesday), warning of heavy rainfall and heavy to very heavy winds.

“It is very likely to intensify into a depression during the next 24 hours over East Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining central parts of south Bay of Bengal and into a Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean,” a bulletin issued by IMD stated.

Cyclone Fani is likely to move northwestwards along and off the east coast of Sri Lanka near north Tamil Nadu coast on 30April. Rainfall is likely to begin from 28 April and intensify over the next few days, IMD said. 

IMD has predicted rainfall in most places in the state with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. 

The wind speeds on 29 April are expected to be around 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over Southwest Bay of Bengal, along and off Sri Lanka coast and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast on 29 April. The next day, on 30 April, the wind speeds will touch 115 kmph along north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh, according to IMD.  

The bulletin also warns fishermen against venturing into the seas beginning 25 April. According to IMD, very heavy rainfall is likely in Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Karaikal and Nagapattinam districts on 29 April.

Addressing the press on Thursday, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai S Balachandran said further details on the cyclone landing will be predicted in the coming days, only after the low pressure belt intensifies into a depression.