The Indian Meteorological Department has been keeping an eye on cyclone Fani (pronounced ‘Foni’) which has been gathering speed and is currently located above the south-east region of the Bay Bengal, about 880 km south-east of Chennai. The cyclonic storm is expected to intensify by Monday afternoon and is likely to escalate into a very severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow, according to IMD. Fani will move North-West and then change its path towards North-East on Wednesday.
IMD has assuaged worries of a violent storm wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring areas, as the cyclonic threat is moving towards the North-West at 21 kmph. Fani will be 300 km away from the Chennai coast before heading north.
“The cyclone threat for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has subsided with cyclone Fani keeping away from anywhere near the shores," said Indian Meteorological Department bulletin.
The residents of Tamil Nadu, as well as tourists, may well rejoice as the region will receive light rainfall as a welcome respite from the scorching heat. The storm could rustle up gusts of wind with speeds of up to 50-60 km per hour, by tomorrow, in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh. So tourists had better hold on to their sun hats.
However, the respite will be short-lived as several such storms which have re-curved in the past, tend to leave the atmosphere high and dry resulting in heat waves.
Sea conditions are likely to be very rough along Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts from 29th April to 1st May, so a moonlit dip in the Marina beach is a strict no-no.
The waters will be choppy on and off Andhra Pradesh coasts from 1st to 3rd May and along the Odisha coast from 2nd May onward.
The government has gotten into action, making preparations to deal with any kind of situation that may arise. The NDRF and the Indian Coast Guard have been put on high alert and are at the disposal of the concerned state governments. While Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are safe from the cyclone, Odisha’s weather conditions are being monitored continuously.
Fishermen have been warned against venturing out into the sea until the threat passes and those who are already out in the deep sea were advised to return to the coast.
Locals and tourists in the concerned areas should keep their umbrellas handy and enjoy the rain before the showers pass to give way to sweltering heat.
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