Cyclone Fengal-triggered heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds lashed northern Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry on Saturday.

The IMD stated that Cyclone Fengal is expected to move westward and cross the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram near Puducherry as a cyclonic storm, with wind speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, by the evening of November 30.

Operations at the Chennai airport were suspended on Saturday due to gutsy winds and heavy rains caused by cyclone 'Fengal', resulting in multiple flight cancellations and impacting hundreds of passeng

Cyclonic storm Fengal commenced its landfall process close to Puducherry and it may approximately take 4 hours for it to cross the coast completely, PTI reported, citing an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official on Saturday.

The airport was earlier closed from noon to 7pm on Saturday as airlines cited difficulties in landing and taking off due to heavy crosswinds.

The Chennai airport will remained closed till 4 a.m. on Sunday (December 1, 2024) due to adverse weather conditions prevailing in the city in view of Cyclone Fengal. Over 100 flights have been cancelled so far.

The cyclone is expected to bring severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and disruptions across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Cyclone Fengal is expected to make landfall on the coast of Tamil Nadu today evening and the India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for various parts of the southern states in view of incessant rainfall.

Flights at Chennai Airport in southern India were disrupted today as the region waited for Cyclonic Storm Fengal to make landfall. A number of flights were cancelled and diverted due to bad weather in the southern metropolis.

Several airlines issued travel advisories about their schedules amid heavy rain in the region due to storm set to make landfall near Tamil Nadu.