Tamil Nadu rain: schools are closed owing to a rainfall alert as Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall today

Tamil Nadu weather: Chennai is still under a yellow alert, but Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai are under a red alert due to exceptionally heavy rain on Wednesday.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has deepened and is expected to become a cyclonic storm called "Fengal" on Wednesday, November 27. As a result, the IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for portions of Tamil Nadu.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected in districts including Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengelpet, and Cuddalore, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai. Authorities have responded by announcing school holidays in places including Chennai, Chengelpet, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai, according to PTI.

The expected inclement weather, which has been plaguing districts like Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Tiruvarur since Tuesday, would keep schools and colleges closed in other areas.

According to the weather service, the area would get widespread mild to moderate rainfall through Thursday, November 28, with sporadic severe downpours.

Particular alerts have been issued by the IMD for several regions of Tamil Nadu. A red warning has been issued for Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai due to exceptionally heavy rains on Wednesday.

From Wednesday through Friday, Chennai is under a yellow alert for significant rainfall. From Wednesday through Saturday, nearby areas including as Chengalpet, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram are under yellow and orange alerts.

Tamil Nadu's weather forecast for the next two days

November 27: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has forecast light to moderate rain in various parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, along with thunderstorms and lightning in a few places. There may be heavy to very heavy rainfall in Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal in a number of locations, with isolated areas seeing really severe rain. In Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villuppuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, and Puducherry, there is also a chance of heavy to extremely heavy rain in a few different places. Districts including Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram are expected to experience isolated heavy rain.

November 28: There is a chance of thunderstorms, lightning, and mild to moderate rain in some areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. While interior regions may receive sporadic showers, coastal Tamil Nadu may see more extensive rainfall. In isolated areas of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Villuppuram, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is anticipated. Furthermore, there is a chance of significant rainfall in certain areas of Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, and Puducherry.

Additionally, from November 28 to 30, the weather service has issued warnings of heavy to extremely heavy rains in several areas of Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

In what ways is Tamil Nadu getting ready for the cyclone?
In order to evaluate rain readiness, Chief Minister MK Stalin presided over a high-level meeting at the Chennai secretariat on Tuesday. He gave the order to send NDRF and State teams to regions that are likely to see significant rainfall. According to the PTI, 17 teams in all have been sent to areas including Chennai, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Thanjavur.

The majority of Chennai and its surrounding districts—Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, northern coastal Cuddalore, and Cauvery delta regions like Nagapattinam—have seen mild to moderate rainfall, with some sections seeing torrential downpours.

Although 1,634 aid centers have been set up by the state, none have been utilized as of yet. First responders and volunteers are prepared to be deployed if necessary, and equipment such as motor pumps, generators, boats, and other machinery is on standby.

The public has been guaranteed a steady supply of milk thanks to state-run Aavin.

After inspecting Chennai's city regions, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin counseled officials to keep up flood prevention measures. As part of the regular maintenance, the canal is being desilted.