Chennai: Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as a low pressure system over the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclone Fani.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said a well low pressure areas lies over the Indian Ocean and adjoining areas.
It is likely to intensify into a depression during the next 24 hours over the Indian Ocean and adjoining central parts of south of Bay of Bengal and into a 'cyclonic storm' during the subsequent 24 hours.
It is likely to move northwestwards along and off the East coast of Sri Lanka near north Tamil Nadu coast on April 30. While denying issuance of a red alert, Mr Balachandran stated that it was Red color warning, which does not mean “Red Alert”. He said Red color warning means “Take Action”.
Balachandran said the coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may receive light to moderate rainfall on April 28, rainfall at most places with heavy rainfalls at isolated places on April 29, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy fails at a few places with extremely heavy at isolated places on April 30 and rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places with extremely heavy at isolated places on May 1.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea for fishing from April 25 as squally wind, speeds reaching 35-45 kmph and gusting to 55 kmph are likely over east Indian Ocean & Bay of Bengal. Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph and gusting to 50 kmph is likely to commence along and off Tamil Nadu & Puducherry coast, Comorin area and Gulf of Mannar from April 28 morning, becoming squally with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and gusting to 60 kmph from April 28 night and becoming squally with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph and gusting to 70 kmph from April 29 morning. Wind speed would gradually increase further becoming 90 -100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining southern Andhra Pradesh districts coasts from April 30 afternoon.
The sea condition likely to be rough in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal on April 25, Indian Ocean & adjoining central parts of south Bay of Bengal on April 26; rough to very rough over Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Indian Ocean on April 27, very rough to high over Southwest Bay of Bengal & adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean and along and off Sri Lanka on April 28, high to very high over Southwest Bay of Bengal, along & off Sri Lanka, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts on April 29 and 30. The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea in the Indian Ocean & the Bay of Bengal from April 25, he added.
