Cyclone Fengal Forms Over Southwest Bay of Bengal; Rain In Odisha Till Dec 2

Bhubaneswar: A cyclonic storm formed over southwest Bay of Bengal around 2.30 pm on Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department.

“The Deep Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm over the same region. Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move westnorthwestwards 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 afternoon.”

Forecast track and intensity

The cyclone has been named ‘Fengal’, a name suggested by Saudi Arabia. It is a word rooted in Arabic and represents a blend of linguistic tradition and cultural identity, reflecting the regional diversity within the WMO/UNESCAP naming panel.

The IMD has warned of squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing over southwest Bay of Bengal. It is likely to increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from November 29 evening and 70- 80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph by November 30 morning. Thereafter, it is likely to decrease becoming 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph by evening of November 30 evening.

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph may also prevail over adjoining areas of westcentral Bay of Bengal till November 30 evening and decrease thereafter.

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph is likely along & off North Tamil Nadu- Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts. It is likely to increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from November 29 evening and 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph from November 30 morning till evening. It is likely to decrease thereafter.

Fishermen have  advised not venture into southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining areas of westcentral Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar and along & off TamilNadu-Puducherry, South Andhra Pradesh and East Sri Lanka coasts till November 30 evening.

Impact on Odisha

The weather agency had earlier said that the system is unlikely to have any direct impact on Odisha, but may trigger rains in several parts of the state due to moisture incursion.

Light to moderate rain may occur at a few places in coastal Odisha & at one or two places in Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Boudh, Rayagada and Koraput districts on November 29, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar on November 30 and December 1, and Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj on December 2.

There will be no large change in the night temperature across the state during the next 4-5 days, it added.