Indian Meteorological Department: Cyclone Fani is April's most severe one in 43 years

Severe storms tend to be concentrated in November, after the monsoon or around the month of May, when before the monsoon hits Kerala in June. This is a direct consequence of global warming, an official from the IMD said. "This is a cyclone that's forming due to the warming of the Bay of Bengal basin…with global warming we have to be prepared for such occurrences and take precaution accordingly," said K.J. Ramesh, Director-General, IMD. According to their reports, Fani, is unlikely to have an impact on the advent of monsoon in the subcontinent.

Cyclone Fani is expected to be an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' by Wednesday and make landfall in Orissa (as a very severe cyclonic storm) by May 4, according to an evening forecast by the IMD on Tuesday.

Heavy rains are expected in north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and light rains in West Bengal under the influence of the cyclone. Strong winds are expected in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra according to the forecasts. Fishermen have been given warnings to stay off the sea.