Chennai, Nov 30 (UNI) The Cyclone Fengal over the Bay moved
further closer to the North Tamil Nadu coast and was centred about
90 km from Chennai and is expected to make a landfall on Saturday
evening, even as Met office forecast extremely heavy rains for the
city and North coastal districts.
In the latest Red Message update for North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts, Met office said the
Cyclonic Storm Fengal (pronounced as FEINJAL) over Southwest
Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 7 kmph during
the past 6 hours.
It now lay centred at 1430 hours of today, over the same region
about 50 km southeast of Mahabalipuram, 80 km east-northeast
of Puducherry and 90 km south-southeast of Chennai.
It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross North Tamil Nadu
and Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram
close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of
70-80 kmph and gusting to 90 kmph this evening.
Earlier, the system was moving at a speed of 10 kmph and it
became slower and was moving at 7 kmh.
There is a possibility of further slow movement of the system
while approaching the coasts.
Met office has forecast extremely heavy rains at the time of
Cyclone making the landfall.
The system is being continuously monitored.
It said moderate to intense spells of heavy to very
heavy rain is very likely at isolated places over Chennai,
Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet,
Tirupathur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai,
Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts of
Tamilnadu and Puducherry at the time of Cyclone crossing
the coast..
Moderate rain is very likely at isolated places over Ariyalur,
Perambalur, Mayiladuthurai, Salem and Namakkal districts
of Tamil Nadu.
Light rain is also likely at isolated places over Erode,
Coimbatore, Dindigul and Pudukottai districts of TN.
UNI GV 1720