Tropical Cyclone Fengal formed over the southwestern Bay of Bengal on Friday.  At 4:00 a.m. EST on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Fengal was located at latitude 11.2°N and longitude 82.2°E which put the center about 165 miles (270 km) east-southeast of the Puducherry, India. Fengal was moving toward the north-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 966 mb.

A low pressure system over the southwestern Bay of Bengal strengthened during Thursday night and the India Meteorological Department designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Fengal.  Thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Cyclone Fengal.  More thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of Fengal’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Fengal generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

Tropical Cyclone Fengal will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Fengal will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge that extends from India across the southern Bay of Bengal.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Fengal is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Fengal will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over eastern and southern Asia.  The high pressure system will steer Fengal toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Fengal will approach the coast of southeastern India near Puducherry in 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Fengal will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Tamil Nadu.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.  Fengal could also cause a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter) along the coast of Tamil Nadu.