Cyclone Fengal was a tropical weather system that formed over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and the adjacent East Equatorial Indian Ocean.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning about the formation of a deep depression in the southwestern Bay of Bengal and adjacent East Equatorial Indian Ocean.
The low pressure area marked yesterday over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and adjacent to the East Equatorial Indian Ocean moved west-northwest, strengthened into a depression and was centered at 08:30 IST today, November 24, 2024 over the central region of the South Bay of Bengal… pic.twitter.com/IUvaVH2Br5
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– India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 25, 2024
As of November 26, 2024, IMD reported that the system was centered about 340 km south-southeast of Trincomalee, 630 km south-southeast of Nagapattinam, 750 km south-east of Puducherry south and 830 km south-southeast of Chennai. Currently, it is moving towards the coast of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.
What is Cyclone Fengal?
Cyclone Fengal was a tropical weather system that formed over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and the adjacent East Equatorial Indian Ocean. Cyclone Fengal followed Cyclone Dana, which hit Odisha on October 25, 2024.
According to predictions by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it may develop into a cyclonic storm, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between November 25 and 27.
If the system strengthens into a cyclone, it will be named ‘Fengal’ according to the World Meteorological Organization’s naming convention. The exact path and impact are being closely monitored.
Naming and context of tornadoes
If the system becomes a cyclonic storm, it will be named ‘Fengal’, a name proposed by Saudi Arabia as part of a 13-nation naming chain.
Projected path and landfall
It is likely to move roughly in the North-Northwest direction and strengthen into a deep depression in the next 12 hours. Thereafter, it is likely to continue moving in a North-Northwest direction towards the Sri Lanka – Tamil Nadu coast over the next 2 days.
According to IMD, the low pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean has been moving north-northwest at a speed of 10 km/h over the past 6 hours and was centered at 5.30 am IST on November 26, 2024.
The IMD predicts that the system will make landfall between Chennai and Puducherry, probably between November 25 and 27, 2024.
Rain and wind forecast
As the system strengthens and approaches the coast:
Rainfall: Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and surrounding areas from November 25 to 29. Isolated places may experience heavy downpours, increases the risk of urban flooding. While rainfall was light to moderate in southern coastal Andhra Pradesh from November 26 to 29.
Wind Speed: Sustained wind speeds are expected to reach 65 km/h, with gusts of up to 75 km/h over the South West Bay of Bengal and along and off the Sri Lanka, Tamilnadu & Puducherry coasts from the evening of November 26 to 29, posing risks to coastal structures, transportation and local fishing activities.
Sea conditions: Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected to prevail over the southwestern Bay of Bengal, adjoining the Bay of Bengal in the southeast and along the coasts of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Fishermen are advised not to go out to sea.
