VISAKHAPATNAM: After playing truant for two days, the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclone Fengal (pronounced as Feinjal) on Friday afternoon, triggered rainfall activity in parts of the Rayalaseema and south coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) on Friday evening and will trigger heavy to very heavy rains on Saturday.
The cyclone is likely to continue to move northwestwards and is expected to make landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry) as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80kmph gusting to 90kmph on Saturday afternoon (Nov 30).
Speaking to TOI, S Karunasagar, scientist at IMD-Amaravati said the cyclone is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall in one or two places over Chittoor, Nellore, Tirupati and Annamayya districts on Saturday (Nov 30). All these four districts have been issued a red alert. An orange alert has been issued to Prakasam and YSR Kadapa districts for Saturday as the areas may receive heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places. The weather system will trigger heavy rainfall in isolated places over Sri Sathya Sai and Anantapur on Saturday, he added.
A yellow alert has been issued to Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Annamayya, YSR Kadapa and Prakasam districts on Sunday (Dec 1) as the area may receive heavy rain in isolated places.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is prevailing over coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. It is likely to increase gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph over south coastal Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. Very rough to high sea conditions is very likely over southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining areas on Saturday (Nov 30). The fishermen are advised not venture into southwest Bay of Bengal till Dec 1.
The IMD said Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district recorded 6 mm rainfall till Friday evening, followed by 5 mm rainfall in Tirupati, 3 mm in Machilipatnam, and 2 mm rainfall in Ongole. The weathermen said that parts of the Rayalaseema and SCAP are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Friday night.
