Cyclone Fengal: How it got its name, likely landfall and what to expect in Tamil Nadu | Chennai News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: As the deep depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a cyclone by Wednesday, the threat of Cyclone Fengal has put authorities in Tamil Nadu on high alert. With the storm expected to move towards the Tamil Nadu coast, skirting Sri Lanka, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for affected regions.

But how did the storm get its name, and what is the process behind naming tropical cyclones?
The naming process
The naming of cyclones in the North Indian Ocean is managed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) panel on tropical cyclones.
Also See:Tamil Nadu Rain Live Updates
In 2000, during the Panel’s 27th session held in Muscat, Oman, a decision was made to begin assigning names to tropical cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. This was aimed at improving public awareness and response to these potentially devastating storms.
The initial batch of names was contributed by eight countries, and over time, five additional countries joined the panel. This rotating list of names includes contributions from countries surrounding the North Indian Ocean, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

Why it is called ‘Fengal’?
In this particular case, Saudi Arabia was responsible for naming the storm Fengal. The name itself is derived from the Arabic language. Under the WMO naming convention, each country on the panel contributes names to a shared list, which are then used sequentially to name each new storm that forms in the region.
Once a name is used for a tropical cyclone, it is retired and cannot be reused for future storms. The names are chosen to be original and distinct, ensuring there is no overlap with cyclone names used by other Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) globally, including the RSMC in New Delhi.

Heavy rains continue in Cauvery Delta Region
Rains persisted overnight in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta areas, resulting in significant damage to standing paddy crops. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall, with some areas in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall.
These regions, which are part of the Cauvery delta, have seen rains submerge crops, both partially and completely, particularly in places like Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupettai, and Mayiladuthurai. Farmers have reported that crops over at least 2,000 acres have been impacted by the ongoing downpour.

Schools, colleges shut
In response to the heavy rainfall and flooding, November 27 has been declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the affected districts of Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai. However, the holiday applies only to schools in Chennai, Chengelpet, Ariyalur, and Kanchipuram districts, where the weather conditions are less severe.
Intense rainfall expected
According to the IMD’s morning update on November 27, the deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal has been moving northwards at a speed of 10 km per hour. The depression was located about 470 km southeast of Nagapattinam and 670 km south-southeast of Chennai. The system is expected to intensify further into a cyclonic storm by November 27, bringing more intense rainfall to the region.
The IMD has warned of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts. Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall, while heavy to very heavy rain is also likely to occur in isolated areas across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukkottai districts. Localized flooding and disruption are anticipated as the cyclone strengthens and moves closer to the coast.

Farmers, authorities brace for worsening conditions
With the cyclone expected to intensify, farmers in the affected regions are bracing for more crop loss, while authorities continue to monitor the situation. The IMD’s alerts and the holiday announcements aim to ensure the safety of residents and help mitigate the impact of the severe weather conditions.
(With agency inputs)