Tamil Nadu has received 56.3 cm of rain so far this season, which is a surplus of 36% than the average since October 1.
| Photo Credit: M. SRINATH
With the low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal likely to move closer to the Tamil Nadu coast by Thursday (December 19, 2024), intense rainfall will be restricted to Chennai and its neighbouring districts and Cuddalore and Villupuram districts.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, which had earlier predicted heavy rainfall for some delta districts and northern districts, such as Tiruvannamalai and Vellore, withdrew the alert on Tuesday (December 17, 2024). It had predicted that the low-pressure area would move closer to the coast by Tuesday.
RMC officials said there was a delay in the slow-moving weather system becoming more marked, and the weather models now indicated that delta districts would receive rainfall of lower intensity. The spiral cloud bands were not being generated from the weather system, thus rainfall impact over some of the districts would decrease, they added.
P. Senthamarai Kannan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai, said the weather system would stay off the coast. It is expected to become more marked and move towards the coast by Thursday. It will bring intense rainfall over north Tamil Nadu on Wednesday and Thursday before moving further upwards.
The RMC issued an orange weather alert, indicating very heavy rainfall, for Chennai and its neighbouring districts on Wednesday. It has predicted heavy rainfall for Villupuram and Cuddalore districts.
Heavy rainfall will be restricted to Chennai and its surrounding districts on Thursday. There may be a gradual decrease in rainfall from Friday (December 20, 2024). Surface winds will be strong, with speeds reaching up to 35-45 kmph over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry till Wednesday. The State has received 56.3 cm of rain so far this season, which is a surplus of 36% than the average since October 1.
Published – December 17, 2024 07:30 pm IST
