Cyclone Fengal Triggers Rain in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam: The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Fengal on Friday afternoon, triggering rainfall in parts of the Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The system is expected to cause heavy to very heavy rains in Chittoor, Nellore and Tirupati on Saturday, IMD said on Friday evening.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is prevailing over coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. It is likely to increase to gale wind, its speed reaching 70-80kmph, gusting to 90kmph over south coastal AP on Saturday.

Scientist at IMD-Amaravati, S Karunasagar, said the cyclone is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall in one or two places over Chittoor, Nellore, Tirupati and Annamayya districts on Saturday. All these four districts have been issued a red alert.

Fengal, pronounced as Feinjal is likely to move north-westwards and make landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry) as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80kmph, gusting to 90kmph on Saturday afternoon.

An orange alert has been issued to Prakasam and YSR Kadapa districts for Saturday as the areas may receive heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places. The weather system will trigger heavy rainfall in isolated places over Sri Sathya Sai and Anantapur on Saturday, he added.

A yellow alert has been issued to Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa and Prakasam districts on Sunday as the area may receive heavy rain in isolated places.

Very rough to highly rough sea conditions are likely over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining land masses on Saturday.

The north Andhra region was overcast and received a drizzle in the evening. IMD advised fishermen not venture into southwest Bay of Bengal till Dec 1.