Cyclone ‘Fani’ very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm

As per an update from the Indian Meteorological Department, the cyclone ‘Fani’, over the Bay of Bengal, is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm in the next 24 hours. The Severe Cyclonic Storm is expected to hit parts of North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh on 30 April.

The areas, which are expected to be hit by Cyclone ‘Fani’, have been put on high alert and the fishermen have been advised against venturing into the deep sea off East Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining central parts of south Bay of Bengal until Tuesday. It has also been advised that the fishermen who are already in the deep sea, should return to the coast by 28 April.

“The Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over the southeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean moved north-northwestwards and lay centred at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 27th April 2019 near Lat. 5.4°N and Long. 88.5°E over the southeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean, about 870 km east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri
Lanka), 1240 km southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1440 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards off Srilanka coast during next 72 hours and reach near North Tamilnadu & South Andhra Pradesh coast on 30th April 2019 evening,” a bulletin, issued at 4:30 PM by the Indian Meteorological Department read.

Reportedly, the cyclone is very likely to trigger thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and East and West Godavari districts. It has been reported that Andhra Pradesh Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Research Centre (AWARE), a division of the Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS), has also advised the people to stay away from the beaches during the weekend.