The cyclonic storm “Fengal” hovering over Bay of Bengal is likely to make landfall over Puducherry today afternoon, the India Meteorological Department said. The weather department has forecast extremely heavy rainfall in parts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry today.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the Deep Depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm Fengal at 2:30 p.m. IST on Wednesday, November 29. The cyclone is predicted to bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the affected regions as it makes landfall.

The deep depression will be named Cyclone Fengal if it turns into a cyclonic storm before making landfall. However, the Met department official says weather patterns show it is weakening.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Fengal has already caused massive damage in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district, with heavy rainfall submerging paddy crops in over 800 acres of land. Farmers in affected areas, including Kamashwaram, Virundhamavadi, and Pudupalli, are facing distress as their crops are completely submerged.

The cyclone is predicted to intensify over the next 48 hours, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and a risk of flooding to the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

Schools in Tiruchirappalli, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Tiruvarur are closed in anticipation of heavy rains.

Rain lashed parts of Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam as deep depression forms over southwest Bay of Bengal on7. District administration announced holiday for schools and colleges in several regions in view of continuous rainfall.

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning that a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into Cyclone Fengal by 27 November. The depression, located 770 km south-southeast of Chennai,