Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall near Puducherry on Saturday afternoon. A red alert has been issued for several districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with heavy rain and strong winds predicted.

The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is expected to weaken and make landfall between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram on Saturday. IMD has issued an or

Cyclone Fengal, a slow-moving weather system that has recently picked up pace, is expected to make landfall near Chennai on the afternoon of Saturday, November

According to the IMD, Cyclone Fengal, currently over the Southwest Bay of Bengal, moved west-northwestwards earlier and is expected to cross the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts later in the day.

Cyclone Fengal will likely become a cyclonic storm, causing heavy to moderate rains in Tamil Nadu. Schools in 11 districts, including Chennai and Puducherry, will be shut on November 29 and November 30.

As Chennai braces for Cyclone Fengal (pronounced Feinjal) to make landfall by Saturday afternoon with upto 90kmph expected wind speed and 20c.

The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments are on high alert, deploying NDRF and SDRF teams in the districts which are expected to face the cyclone’s wrath. The Tamil Nadu government has stepped up measures like relief camps and shelters and emergency medical teams.

The deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal is stationary, located about 100 km east-northeast of Trincomalee. It is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm past midnight on Thursday. The situation is being closely monitored as it develops.