Cyclone Fengal Nears Coast: Rain To Continue In Odisha For 4 Days, Yellow Alert For 7 Dists Till Later Afternoon

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience light rain under the influence of Cyclone Fengal, which is expected to make landfall close to Puducherry on Saturday evening with wind speed of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.

Though the system will have no direct impact, rain will continue in the sate till December 3 due to moisture incursion, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather agency has sounded yellow warning for Gajapati, Ganjam, Koparut, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhaj, which are likely to receive a few spells of very light to light rain till late afternoon.

There is also a light rain forecast for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri on November 30, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khurda on December 1, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati on December 2, and Koraput and Malkangiri on December 3.

It further added that there will be no large change in the minimum temperature across the state during the next 4-5 days.

Cyclone Fengal & Its Impact

The cyclonic storm was about about 120 km east-northeast of Puducherry, 110 km southeast of Chennai, 200 km north-northeast of Nagapattinam and 420 km north of Trincomalee at 8.30 am. It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during November 30 evening.

Speaking to the media, IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that Cyclone Fengal is centred over the southwest Bay of Bengal. “It is very likely to move slowly westwards and hit the north Tamil Nadu coast around this evening and when it approaches the coast, it is very likely to have wind speed of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 9o kmph. The strong wind may uproot small trees, cause damage to houses, telephone lines and power lines. Along with this, heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded in the past 24 hours at a few places, especially over the North coast of Tamil Nadu and some places of South Andhra Pradesh. In the next 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over South Andhra Pradesh and North Coastal Tamil Nadu districts…There is a possibility of inundation in low-lying areas, especially in cities like Chennai, Mahabalipuram…People should not come out of their homes…Fishermen should not venture into the sea…,” he said.

The MeT office has warned of storm surge of about 1 metre height above the astronomical tide at the time of landfall, which may inundate the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh.

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph may prevail along & off South Tamil Nadu coast and Gulf of Mannar; Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is also likely over adjoining areas of westcentral Bay of Bengal; Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is very likely to prevail along & off east Sri Lanka coasts; Gale wind speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph is likely to prevail over southwest Bay of Bengal, along & off North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts, and Puducherry. An orange alert is also in place in Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal districts.

EMU train services in the Suburban sections of the Chennai division would be operated at reduced frequency intervals, according to a press release by the Southern Railway Chennai Division PRO.

All schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts will remain closed on November 30. The IT companies have been requested to allow their employees to work from home. Public transportation services will also remain suspended in the afternoon on the East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram road.

IndiGo airlines has temporarily suspended its operations due to adverse weather conditions. Over 10 arrivals and departures have been cancelled at Chennai airport. An IndiGo flight (6E1412) from Abu Dhabi to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru due to bad weather.

Residents in Puducherry have been asked to stay indoors. The administration has also released toll-free numbers 112 and 1077. People can also seek help through the WhatsApp number 9488981070.