Wikipedia

Cyclone Fengal

Cyclonic Storm Fengal (feinjal) was a deadly tropical cyclone that brought significant flooding to Southern India and Sri Lanka. The fourth cyclonic storm of the 2024 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Fengal originated from a tropical disturbance off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on 14 November. It killed at least 37 people; 20 in India and 17 in Sri Lanka, along with 20 injuries.

Cyclonic Storm Fengal
Fengal at peak intensity nearing landfall in Southern India.
Meteorological history
Formed25 November 2024
Post-tropical1 December 2024
Cyclonic storm
3-minute sustained (IMD)
Highest winds85 km/h (50 mph)
Lowest pressure992 hPa (mbar); 29.29 inHg
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds95 km/h (60 mph)
Lowest pressure987 hPa (mbar); 29.15 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities37+
Injuries20+
DamageUnknown
Areas affectedSouthern India, Sri Lanka
Part of the 2024 North Indian Ocean cyclone season

Meteorological history

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
  Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

On 14 November, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology noted the potential formation of a tropical low west of Sumatra, Indonesia.[1] The tropical low formed a few days later due to the occurrence of a westerly wind burst.[2] As the low formed, it led to the formation of an invest, which later formed a deadly twin cyclone. Another invest was formed designated as Invest 99B by the JTWC.[3] The low struggled to develop initially due to the presence of strong wind shear with convection spread all the way from the Malay Peninsula to Sri Lanka.[4] Subsequently, it organised itself into a low pressure area on 23 November.[5]

As it moved westward, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began tracking the system for potential tropical cyclogenesis.[5] It strengthened into a depression on 25 November while it moved northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka coast.[6] On 26 November at 01:30 IST, JTWC issued it a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert on the depression as it began to move northward, paralleling the Coromandel coast. On the same day, in southwestern parts of Bay of Bengal, it intensified further into a deep depression, later moving into Sri Lanka. It continued moving parallel to the Coromandel coast and by 27 November, it was located 490 km south-southeast of Chennai.[7] The JTWC noted that the system showed highly disorganized but persistent areas of convection. It was in a marginal environment for tropical cyclogenesis with high vertical wind shear just northeast of Sri Lanka limiting further intensification.[8] On 28 November, the system maintained its intensity and moved north-northwestwards at a speed of 9 Km/h.[9] By 14:30 IST on 29 November, the system became organized and strengthened into a cyclonic storm, given the name Fengal by the IMD. At that time, it was 300 km southeast of Chennai and moved of 13 km/h.[10]

On the early morning of 30 November, Fengal reached its peak intensity with 3-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h.[11] The JTWC recorded a 1-minute sustained winds 95 km/h and a pressure of 987 hPa as it moves westward toward Southern India at the same time.[12] It made landfall near Puducherry between Karaikal and Mababalipuram coasts on the evening of 30 November[13] and weakened slightly due to land interaction and wind shear.[14] The next day on 1 December, the system had weakened to a deep depression by 11:30 IST at a distance of 30 km north of Cuddalore.[15] The same day by 17:30 IST, the remnant of the cyclone weakened further into a depression over the same region.[16] It weakened further into a remnant low over north interior Tamil Nadu by 05:30 IST on 2 December.[17]

Preparation

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As Fengal formed, the IMD issued a red alert for the states of Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka as extremely heavy rainfall was expected.[18] As Fengal approached India, the Puducherry government closed all schools in its district until 30 November.[19] Fishermen were advised to halt fishing and move their boats to higher ground in anticipation of Fengal's landfall over Puducherry.[18] Chennai's Meenambakkam Airport suspended operations until the morning of 1 December.[20]

Impact

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Sri Lanka

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As Fengal crossed Sri Lanka in depression stage, it caused significant damage. Nearly 480,000 people were displaced, 17 were killed and 20 were injured, with 103 homes destroyed and 2,635 others damaged.[21]

India

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In Tiruvannamalai, 10 people died; seven from a landslide,[22] two from drowning and another due to electrocution.[23] Heavy rains of up to 130 mm (5.1 in) also caused severe flooding in Chennai, resulting in four deaths from electrocution.[24] In Ooty, heavy rains caused a house to collapse, killing a 45-year-old man.[25] Additionally, four people were killed in Pondicherry and another in Vellore.[26] Flooding inundated around 800 acres of farmland in Nagapattinam.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tropical cyclone 7 day forecast". Bureau of Meteorology. 15 November 2024. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Tropical cyclone 7 day forecast". Bureau of Meteorology. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  3. ^ HOAREAU, PATRICK. "MJO pulse forecast to help development of INVEST 99B and INVEST 965S within the next several days// 2406utc". Météo.Cyclones.World@PH. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean, 1830Z 23 November 2024 Reissued (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 23 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Low pressure area over East Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal" (PDF). IMD.
  6. ^ "IMD Status BOB". X. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Deep Depression over central parts of southwest Bay of Bengal" (PDF). IMD.
  8. ^ "SIGNIFICANT TROPICAL WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN". JTWC.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Deep Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal" (PDF). IMD.
  10. ^ "DEEP DEPRESSION INTENSIFIED INTO CYCLNIC STORM "FENGAL" OVER SOUTHWEST BAY OF BENGAL" (PDF). IMD.
  11. ^ "Cyclonic Storm "FENGAL" [pronounced as FEINJAL] over Southwest Bay of Bengal (Cyclone Warning: Red Message for North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh Coasts)" (PDF). IMD. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2024.
  12. ^ Significant Tropical Weather Advisory for the Indian Ocean, 0000Z 30 November 2024 Reissued (Report). United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 30 November 2024. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  13. ^ Jha, Prabhakar (30 November 2024). "Cyclone Fengal makes landfall, brings heavy rains and gusty winds to TN & Puducherry". Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  14. ^ "HOURLY UPDATE ON CYCLONIC STORM "FENGAL" BULLETIN NO. 03" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. 30 November 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Cyclonic Storm "FENGAL" [pronounced as FEINJAL] weakened into a Deep Depression over north coastal Tamil Nadu & Puducherry" (PDF). IMD. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2024.
  16. ^ "DEEP DEPRESSION OVER NORTH COASTAL TAMIL NADU WEAKENED INTO A DEPRESSION". IMD. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024.
  17. ^ "TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE NORTH INDIAN OCEAN VALID FOR THE NEXT 168 HOURS ISSUED AT 0600 UTC OF 02122024 BASED ON 0300 UTC OF 02122024" (PDF). IMD.
  18. ^ a b c "Cyclone Fengal highlights: Landfall on November 30 afternoon, red alert in Southern states for heavy rain". mint. 27 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Cyclone Fengal: Deep depression intensifies into cyclonic storm, landfall today". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2024. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Cyclone Fengal live: Storm to cross Tamil Nadu coast in one hour, IMD warns of winds up to 90km/h". Hindustan Times. 1 December 2024. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  21. ^ "ආපදා මරණ 17ක් දක්වා ඉහළට" (in Sinhala). Ada Derana. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ^ "7 trapped in house after landslip found dead in Tiruvannamalai". The Hindu. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Three dead as cyclone Fengal triggers rains in Tiruvannamalai". The New Indian Express. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Four electrocuted in Chennai as cyclone Fengal makes landfall". The Times of India. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  25. ^ "Man dies in house collapse in Ooty". The Hindu. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Nine killed as Fengal drowns Puducherry, Villupuram". The New Indian Express. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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