Rainfall with moderate intensity at Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from January 12 till January 14

Final northeast monsoon rainspell in Tamil Nadu, with scattered rainfall and isolated heavy rainfall in delta districts and Karaikal.

In what is likely to be the final northeast monsoon rainspell, scattered rainfall, which may begin in coastal Tamil Nadu on Saturday, may move to south Tamil Nadu by January 14. Some delta districts and Karaikal may experience isolated heavy rainfall on January 12 under the influence of a weather system over southeast Bay of Bengal.

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai has forecast that the cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean will trigger a rainspell of moderate intensity at a few places in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from Saturday to January 14.

Delta districts, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and Mayiladuthurai, are likely to experience heavy rainfall up to 12 cm in one or two places on January 12. While coastal Tamil Nadu will begin to have isolated rainfall from Friday, rainfall may cover more places in coastal belt during the weekend. Interior places too have chances of rainfall over the weekend.

While rain clouds may move to south Tamil Nadu on January 14, isolated rainfall is possible in northern parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal too. The RMC has also forecast misty/hazy early morning hours in isolated pockets of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai. The minimum temperature had dropped to its lowest of 16 degee Celsius in Karur’s Paramathi, Tamil Nadu.

Various places of Nilgiris district may continue to experience bitter cold and drop in minimum temperature. The hill ranges of Nilgiris district is likely to be covered with ground frost.

Chennai, too, has a possibility of light rain in some areas on Friday and the maximum temperature would hover around 29-30 degree Celsius.

S. Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said the RMC was monitoring for withdrawal symptoms of northeast monsoon. Northeasterlies continue to prevail over the region. The cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal would give a break to ongoing dry weather for the next few days. Prolonged dry weather is one of the factors to determine retreat of the monsoon.