Cyclone Fani to skip Tamil Nadu, light rainfall likely in northern TN

Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over ghat areas of Nilgiris, Theni, and Dindigul.

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After days of speculation, it is now official: Cyclone Fani (pronounced Foni) will not hit the coast of Tamil Nadu. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai announced on Sunday that the cyclone, which now lays over 1,000 km off the coast of Tamil Nadu, may bring light to moderate showers to parts of northern Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to reporters, S Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology at the RMC said, “Cyclone Fani will not pass the coast of Tamil Nadu. There won't be any direct impact on account of this. When this cyclone nears the coasts of northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh, it may bring light to moderate showers in some places.”

He added, “Fishermen are advised not to venture into south-eastern parts of the Bay of Bengal today and south-western and mid-western parts of the Bay of Bengal between April 29 and May 1.” He also said that fishermen in the deep sea are asked to return immediately.

Regarding apprehensions that the cyclone giving the state a miss may cause a surge in temperatures, he said, "As of now, the cyclone is 1,050 km away. It will come as close as 300 km. It is likely to change direction. When this changes direction, temperatures may arise with the entry of western and north-western winds."

A Sunday afternoon bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclone would likely intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours. "It is very likely to move northwestwards till 1 May evening and thereafter re-curve northnortheastwards gradually," it said.

While light to moderate rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Tamil Nadu between Sunday and May 2, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over ghat areas of Nilgiris, Theni, and Dindigul. Thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 Kmph) and lightning are likely to occur at isolated places over Tamil Nadu.