Visakhapatnam: A heavy rainfall alert has been issued to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal would intensify into a cyclone on Wednesday.
IMD said in a release that the system will move in the north-northwest direction towards the Tamil Nadu coast, skirting the Sri Lanka coast during the coming two days.
Cyclone Fengal is the second cyclone in the post-monsoon season to affect the Indian coast after Cyclone Dana, which crossed Odisha as a severe cyclone in late October. The name was suggested by Saudi Arabia, IMD said.
IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of south coastal AP and the Rayalaseema district and heavy rainfall in parts of north coastal AP between Wednesday and Saturday.
As per the predictions, parts of Prakasam, Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya and Chittoor districts will experience heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
On Thursday, a few areas in Nellore, Tirupati and Annamayya districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places over Bapatla, Prakasam, Sri Satya Sai, Chittoor and YSR Kadapa district.
On November 29, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in parts of Nellore, Prakasam, Tirupati, Annamayya and Chittoor districts and parts of Bapatla, Sri Satya Sai, YSR Kadapa, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle districts.
On Saturday, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya, Chittoor and YSR Kadapa districts while parts of Bapatla, Prakasam, Sri Satya Sai, Anantapur, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle districts will receive heavy rainfall.
Squally winds with speed of 35-45kmph gusting to 55kmph is likely along and off parts of coastal north AP. Its wind speed would likely reach 55-65kmph, gusting to 75kmph along and off the coastal south AP region during the two days.
Meanwhile, the state-level Disaster Management Authority has sounded an alert over a severe atmospheric depression, which it said has strengthened into a cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal. Ronanki Kurmanath, MD of the disaster management agency, advised vigil and preparedness among the residents of the affected areas
He cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea from Nov27 to 29 due to a heightened risk posed by the cyclone. Residents are urged to stay updated through official channels for the latest weather forecasts and safety advisories.
