Tamil Nadu schools closed as Cyclone Fengal set to make landfall today: Heavy rain alert issued for these districts |

Tamil Nadu schools closed due to Cyclone Fengal: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Tamil Nadu as a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression. It is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm, named Fengal, and make landfall today on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai forecasts widespread rainfall across the state, with heavy to very heavy downpours likely in districts including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore. The IMD predicts that these conditions will persist until Thursday, November 28, with light to moderate rainfall in many areas and isolated extremely heavy rain in select regions.

Rain alerts and school closures across various districts in Tamil Nadu

In anticipation of the severe weather, authorities have declared holidays for schools and colleges in several districts, including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Ramanathapuram. Educational institutions in Tiruvallur and Sivaganga have also been closed due to the heavy rains. The Directorate of Technical Education has postponed diploma exams scheduled for Wednesday, while Madras University has deferred its semester exams in Tiruvallur district.
Chennai is currently under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall from Wednesday to Friday, while neighboring districts such as Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu are on yellow and orange alerts through Saturday.

Met department’s forecast for the upcoming days in affected districts

For November 27, the RMC predicts light to moderate rain in most parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. Districts like Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated spots likely to experience extremely heavy rain. Scattered heavy rain is also anticipated in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Villuppuram, among other districts.
On November 28, light to moderate rainfall is expected in a few areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Coastal regions will see more widespread rain compared to the interior. Heavy to very heavy rain may occur in isolated locations in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villuppuram, and Ranipet.
Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired a high-level meeting at the Chennai Secretariat on Tuesday to review the state’s preparedness for the impending cyclone. He directed the deployment of 17 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to districts prone to heavy rainfall. Teams have been stationed in Chennai, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur to manage potential emergencies.