Cyclone Fengal moved west-northwestwards over the Southwest Bay of Bengal at a speed of 13 km per hour on Saturday afternoon. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported its position at latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.9°E, around 120 km north-northeast of Nagapattinam and 420 km north of Trincomalee.
The storm is expected to move westwards and cross the northern Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts, between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram, near Puducherry, as a cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 70 to 80 km per hour, gusting up to 90 km per hour, during Friday evening.
In areas from Tiruvallur to Mayiladuthurai, wind speeds during the time of landfall are predicted to range between 70 and 90 km per hour. On Sunday, coastal areas from Tiruvallur to Nagapattinam districts are forecasted to experience wind speeds of 50 to 70 km per hour.
As the cyclone approaches, various districts in Tamil Nadu have already started experiencing heavy rainfall.
Visuals from Chennai show roads inundated due to the downpour, with several parts of the city facing waterlogging. Ankle-deep water was reported in areas such as New Washermanpet, Gemini Flyover, and Mount Road. Vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, struggled to navigate the waterlogged streets.
The impact of Cyclone Fengal has also led to gusty winds and continuous rainfall in many coastal areas. Chennai has experienced heavy to moderate rainfall since last night, causing rough sea conditions accompanied by strong winds.
The IMD reported that Cyclone Fengal is being continuously monitored through Doppler weather radars at Chennai (S-band), Sriharikota, and Chennai (X-band), along with satellite observations.
Due to the cyclone, multiple airlines have issued travel advisories and updates on their flight services, citing heavy rains in Chennai.
Authorities have advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea due to high waves and turbulent conditions. The public has also been cautioned against visiting beaches in Chennai, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam, and Edward Elliot’s Beach. Tourist spots in Puducherry have been closed as a precautionary measure.