New Delhi/Chennai: Cyclone 'Fani' is very likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" in the next 12 hours and further soar into a "very severe cyclonic storm" in the next 24 hours, the Cyclone Warning Division of the MeT department said on Sunday.
In its 1pm bulletin, the Cyclone Warning Division said 'Fani' currently lays over 745 kilometres east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 1,050 kilometres southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1,230 kilometres south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
Heavy falls at isolated places are very likely over Kerala on April 29 and 30.
The system will not make landfall in Tamil Nadu, but may bring light rain in some northern parts, it said.
Earlier, it was expected to cause heavy rains in northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai said cyclone threat to Tamil Nadu has abated. "There is no chance of Fani crossing the Tamil Nadu coast," Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre S Balachandran told reporters in Chennai.
Light to moderate rainfall are very likely at a few places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha on May 2. It is likely to increase in intensity with heavy rainfall over coastal Odisha from May 3.
Strong winds with speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph are likely to commence along and off the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast, Comorin area and Gulf of Mannar from Sunday. It will intensify a day later, the bulletin said.
Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough along and off Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts from April 29 to May 1.
The sea conditions will be very rough along and off the north Andhra Pradesh coast from May 1-3 and along off Odisha coast from May 2 onwards.
The IMD has also advised fishermen along the coasts of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry not to venture into the sea.
Those in the deep sea were advised to return to the coast, the IMD added.
The storm has been named 'Fani,' as suggested by Bangladesh which means 'fan' in Bangla, he said. It is pronounced as 'Foni'.
Rainfall in Kerala
Heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over Kerala from Monday.
Heavy rain is predicted in Kerala's Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts on April 29. It may occur in Kottayam, Ernakulam and, Idukki on April 30.
Fishermen in deep sea have been instructed to return before Sunday.
Winds could be as strong as 50km/hr in Kerala. Thunderstorms can be expected in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
High-ranges alert
Rain forecast has hit tourism in Kerala's Munnar again. It attracts maximum tourists during summer – April and May. The numbers were low in April because of Lok Sabha polls. With rains predicted, government has issued advisory against travelling to high ranges. Hotels are cancelling advance bookings too.
(With inputs from PTI)
