Cyclonic storm Fengal has commenced making landfall close to Puducherry and it may approximately take four hours for it to cross the coast completely, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said here on Saturday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy downpours across south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on November 30, 2024, due to Cyclone Fengal.

Chennai and its surrounding regions, including Puducherry, faced steady rains and gusty winds as Cyclone Fengal made landfall, disrupting public transport and forcing authorities to evacuate residents from vulnerable areas. Public transport, including buses, trains, and flights, has been heavily impacted.

The cyclone is expected to cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram around 30 November morning as a depression with a wind speed of 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on November 28 informed that Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall between Mahabalipuram and Karaikal on November 30. “We cannot say it to Cyclone Fengal as it is a deep depression now.

As Cyclone Fengal intensifies over the Bay of Bengal, Chennai braces for prolonged rainfall expected to continue until December 1. The city has already witnessed heavy downpours, disrupting daily life and raising concerns about waterlogging in low-lying areas.

With Cyclonic Storm ’Fengal’ approaching the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, a senior IMD official said that there was will be fairly widespread moderate rainfall in most of the parts of the state.

Chennai and its suburbs are bracing for heavy rainfall through December 1st due to a slow-moving weather system in the Bay of Bengal. While the system's intensification into Cyclone Fengal is delayed,