Cyclone Fengal has intensified as it moves toward Tamil Nadu, making landfall near Puducherry. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in southern India due to expected heavy rainfall and strong winds.
As of 5:30 PM IST on November 30, 2024, Cyclone Fengal was located over the southwest Bay of Bengal, about 40 km off the North Tamil Nadu coast. It was 50 km southeast of Mahabalipuram, 60 km northeast of Puducherry, and 90 km south of Chennai. The cyclone is moving west-southwest at 7 km/h, and the landfall process is expected to continue for the next 3-4 hours.
The IMD predicts winds of 70-80 km/h, reaching up to 90 km/h, in the affected areas. Chennai Airport has extended its closure until 4:00 AM on December 1, 2024, due to the ongoing cyclone.
Red Alert has been issued for Chengalpattu, Vellore, and 8 other districts, as the storm is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu, South Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and parts of interior Karnataka.
The cyclone’s forward spiral bands have already entered the coastal areas near Puducherry. Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the storm approaches, with a focus on flooding and strong winds.
