A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is intensifying into Cyclone Fengal, triggering red alerts for Tamil Nadu's coastal regions. With heavy rainfall forecasted, schools and colleges remain closed,

As severe waves brought a buoy ashore at Chennai's Marina Beach on Wednesday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that a deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal is intensifying into a cyclone.

Cyclone Fengal, is a name proposed by Saudi Arabia, in line with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) guidelines on naming cyclones.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for rain for Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry.

Heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in various parts of Chennai city on November 26. Streets and roads were flooded with muddy water following heavy rainfall. India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Chennai from November 27 to 29.

A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is intensifying and expected to become a cyclonic storm, named Fengal, by November 27. It's currently southeast of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, and moving towards the Tamil Nadu coast.

Moving north-northwestwards at 12 km/h, the storm system is expected to bypass Sri Lanka’s coast and approach Tamil Nadu within the next two days. However, slightly cooler sea surface temperatures closer to the coastline could weaken the system marginally before landfall.

The system is expected to develop into a cyclonic storm within 24 hours, with potential landfall along Tamil Nadu's coast by the end of the week.