CHENNAI: Chennai and neighbouring districts have been experiencing strong winds and heavy rain spells as Cyclone Fengal moves towards the Tamil Nadu coast.
S Balachandran, deputy director general, Regional Meteorological Centre, said the cyclone is likely to cross the land near Puducherry later this evening. “It is currently moving at 10kmph speed and is 100km southeast of Chennai. Its speed will slow down when it approaches the coast and during landfall,” he said.
The IMD has extended heavy to very heavy rainfall warning (orange alert) to Chennai and 13 districts including the city’s three neighbours Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengelpet districts on Sunday.
Eight districts — Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Erode, the Nilgiris, Namakkal, Tiruchirapalli and Pudukottai districts — have been issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall tomorrow.
In the five hours between 8.30am and 1.30pm, Nungambakkam recorded 97mm, Meenambakkam 102mm, Mamallapuram 70mm, VIT Chennai 74mm, Jaya Engineering 80mm, NIOT Pallikaranai 73mm, YMCA Nandanam 82mm and Kolapakkam 107mm.
Balachandran said the overnight rainfall in the city saw Nungambakkam observatory record the strongest gust reaching speeds of 50kmph. In the three hours between 5.30am and 8.30am, Nungambakkam observatory recorded 45mm or 4cm rainfall.
