The IMD's Cyclone Warning divison on Sunday said that Cyclone 'Fani' is very likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" in the next 12 hours and further soar into a "very severe cyclonic storm" in the next 24 hours.
In its 1 pm bulletin, the Cyclone Warning Division said 'Fani' currently lays over 745 kilometres east-southeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 1,050 kilometres southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1,230 kilometres south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
"It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours," the IMD said.
Heavy falls at isolated places are very likely over Kerala on April 29 and 30.
The system will not make landfall in Tamil Nadu, but may bring light rain in some northern parts, it said. Earlier, it was expected to cause heavy rains in northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai.