Cyclone Fani to form in 12 hours- wind speed upto 145 kms expected

The weather system over Bay of Bengal has formed into a depression and will intensify into a deep depression in the next 12 hours according to a bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department. With heavy rain expected in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu DGP has issued a circular to state police force to be prepared and keep the Disaster Response Forces (NDRF and SDRF) on standby. 

The weather bulletin, tweeted by the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA), states that the depression is located around 1210 kilometres southeast of Chennai. “It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours,” it says.

“Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall in isolated places also very likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh on April 30,” the bulletin adds. Further, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over isolated places in coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 1.

“As of now, the system will move northwest and reach near north Tamil Nadu coast…there are chances of heavy rains in isolated places in north Tamil Nadu,” S Balachandran, Deputy Director in Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, told the reporters on Friday, April 26. He added they will have better clarity on the precipitation based on the movement of the system.

Wind speeds are expected to be between 120 to 145 kilometres per hour over southwest Bay of Bengal along and off Sri Lanka coast and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast on April 29.

The authorities have advised fishermen not to venture into the Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal from April 25.