Cyclone Fengal: How it got its name, landfall, weather warnings, and impact on Tamil Nadu

A deep depression in the southwest Bay of Bengal is set to turn into Cyclone Fengal by Wednesday. As the storm moves towards Tamil Nadu, authorities are on high alert. It is expected to skim past Sri Lanka and hit the Tamil Nadu coast soon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for the affected areas.

How Are Cyclones Named?

Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean are named by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In 2000, the WMO, along with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), decided to start naming tropical cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. This was done to raise public awareness and help people respond to these dangerous storms.


A group of countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia, suggest names for storms. Each country contributes names to a list, and these names are used in order for each new storm. When a name is used for a storm, it is retired and cannot be used again.

Why is it Called 'Fengal'?

The name 'Fengal' was given by Saudi Arabia. The name comes from the Arabic language. Every country in the WMO panel has its turn to name storms, and Saudi Arabia was the one to name this cyclone.

Impact of Cyclone Fengal

Heavy Rains in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery delta regions have already seen heavy rains, which caused damage to crops, especially paddy fields. Farmers in areas like Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, and Mayiladuthurai have reported that crops on thousands of acres have been affected. The IMD has warned that these areas could see even more rain, some of it very heavy.


School Closures
To protect students from the severe weather, schools and colleges in the affected districts of Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai will be closed on November 27. However, schools in districts like Chennai and Kanchipuram, where the weather is less severe, will remain open.

What’s Expected Next?
As of November 27, the depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving north at 10 km per hour. It’s about 470 km southeast of Nagapattinam and 670 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is expected to become a full cyclone soon, bringing even more rain to Tamil Nadu.

The IMD has predicted heavy rain across many districts, including Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Chennai, and others. The rains are likely to cause flooding and disruptions as the cyclone gets closer to the coast.

Farmers and Authorities Prepare
Farmers in the affected areas are preparing for more damage to their crops, while authorities are working to manage the situation. The IMD’s warnings and the holiday announcements for schools aim to keep people safe and reduce the impact of the storm.

Inputs from TOI