Bhubaneswar: Odisha is experiencing chilly weather with cloudy sky and light rain under the influence of cyclonic storm Fengal, which is likely to make landfall close to Puducherry on Saturday evening with wind speed of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.
“The cyclonic storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved westnorthwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 5.30 am, about 150 km east of Puducherry, 140 km southeast of Chennai, 210 km northeast of Nagappattinam and 400 km north of Trincomalee. It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during November 30 evening,” the India Meteorological Department informed in its morning bulletin.
Storm surge warning
Storm surge of about 1 metre height above the astronomical tide is likely inundate the low-lying areas of the coastal districts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.
Wind warning
Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is likely to prevail along & off South Tamil Nadu coast and Gulf of Mannar; Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph may prevail over adjoining areas of westcentral Bay of Bengal; Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is very likely to prevail along & off east Sri Lanka coasts; Gale wind speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph is likely to prevail over southwest Bay of Bengal, along & off North Tamil Nadu – Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts.
Fisherman warning
Total suspension of fishing operations. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of westcentral Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar and along & off Tamil Nadu-Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh and east Sri Lanka coasts till November 30.
Heavy rain warning for Nov 30
Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at a few places with extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) at isolated places in north Tamil Nadu; Heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy falls (≥ 20 cm) is also likely at isolated places in Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra Pradesh; Heavy rainfall (≥ 7 cm) at isolated places over Kerala & Mahe, south Interior Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Schools closed, flights cancelled
All schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Chengalpattu districts will remain closed on November 30. The IT companies have been requested to allow their employees to work from home. Public transportation services will also remain suspended in the afternoon on the East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram road.
IndiGo airlines has temporarily suspended its operations due to adverse weather conditions. Over 10 arrivals and departures have been cancelled at Chennai airport. An IndiGo flight (6E1412) from Abu Dhabi to Chennai was diverted to Bengaluru due to bad weather.
Residents in Puducherry have been asked to stay indoors. The administration has also released toll-free numbers 112 and 1077. People can also seek help through the WhatsApp number 9488981070.
Impact on Odisha
While the system is having no direct impact on Odisha, it has triggered light rain across the state due to moisture incursion.
Earlier in the day, the weather agency had issued yellow warning for Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Boudh, Dbenkanal, Sundargarh, Angul, Keonjhar, Balasore, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Kandhamal districts till afternoon.
The rain is likely to continue in the state till December 2.