Chennai and surrounding regions have been experiencing continuous rainfall since Tuesday, with authorities declaring a yellow alert as Cyclone Fengal intensifies.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning that a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into Cyclone Fengal by 27 November. The depression, located 770 km south-southeast of Chennai,

Schools in Tiruchirappalli, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Tiruvarur are closed in anticipation of heavy rains.

According to an IMD's rainfall update, very heavy rainfall was recorded in several areas, including Nagapattinam (19 cm) and Chennai (13 cm), from 8.30 am on November 26 until 8.30 am the following day.

This has extended rain activity over Chennai till Dec 1. Chennai will get heavy rainfall (orange alert) on Nov 28 and Dec 1 and heavy to very heavy (yellow alert) on Nov 29 and 30. Cyclone Fengal may form during the next 12 hours and move north-northwestwards towards Tamil Nadu coast during the subsequent two days.

A total of 17 disaster response teams, comprising NDRF and state personnel, have been dispatched to vulnerable areas such as Chennai, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Thanjavur districts.

Cyclone Fengal, intensifying in the Bay of Bengal, is projected to hit Tamil Nadu's coast after grazing Sri Lanka. Heavy rainfall has already impacted crops, prompting school closures in several districts.

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