Cyclone Fani likely to intensify, heavy rains expected in Tamil Nadu

Cyclonic Storm ‘Fani’ is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). It will gradually turn into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours and very likely to move north westwards till May 1 and thereafter recurve north eastwards. According to the IMD, “‘Fani’ lay centred at 0530 hrs over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood, about 745 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 1050 km southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1230 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).”

It is likely to reach north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast by April 30 evening. In a press release on Saturday, the Indian Meteorological department said, "Cyclone Fani is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours."

According to the warnings, Cylone Fani is now travelling at a speed of 80-90 kmph and is likely to reach a speed of 110 kmph on Sunday.

CS ‘FANI’ over SE BoB lay centred at 2330 hrs IST of 27th April, 2019 about 1110 km SE of Chennai . It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 12 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till 30th & thereafter recurve northeastwards gradually. pic.twitter.com/QUxZDdiUip

— India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) April 27, 2019

Speaking to the reporters on Saturday at the Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD, Chennai, Deputy Director General S Balachandran said that light to moderate rains are possible in the coming days in north Tamil Nadu due to the cyclonic storm. “It has travelled at a speed of 18 kilometres per hour in the last six hours. This will intensify into a cyclonic storm by this evening and into a severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow (Sunday). It will further move in the northwest direction and move near the coast of north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on April 30,” he said.