Fishermen warned of high tide, gale along Bay of Bengal coast

The weather department said high tide could occur between Colachal in Kanyakumari and Keezhakkarai in Ramanathapuram due to the movement of heavy winds in the southwest direction from Sri Lanka.

Furious winds and high tide between Kanyakumari and Ramanathapuram could make venturing into the sea on Sunday a risky proposition, weather experts have warned fishermen from districts along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu.

Although there is a ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal between April 15 and June 14, fishermen who own small fibreglass boats have nonetheless been venturing into the sea. (AFP File)

According to S Balachandran, director of the regional meteorological centre in Chennai, high tide could occur between Colachal in Kanyakumari and Keezhakkarai in Ramanathapuram due to the movement of heavy winds in the southwest direction from Sri Lanka.

“Strong winds will move at a speed of 35-45 km per hour from the southwesterly direction, and it will blow over the southern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu at a speed of 50 km per hour. So, high waves in the range of 3 to 3.4 metres can occur between Colachal and Kilakarai until 11.30 pm on Sunday. This is why fishermen should exercise extra caution,” said Balachandran.

Although there is a ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal between April 15 and June 14, fishermen who own small fibreglass boats have nonetheless been venturing into the sea. “We have alerted all fishing hamlets in the district through tahsildars. But, as of now, no such climatic development is being witnessed around here,” Kanyakumari collector Prasant M Wadnere told HT.

Balachandran had earlier said that the inner districts of Tamil Nadu would receive heavy rainfall due to the effects of relative humidity.