T.N. coastal region to experience intense rainfall from Nov. 26 to 30

An intensifying weather system over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining Equatorial Indian ocean is expected to bring intense rainfall, which can be extremely heavy in some pockets, to the coastal region of Tamil Nadu over the next five days.

An intensifying weather system over the Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean is expected to bring intense rainfall, which can be extremely heavy in some pockets, to the coastal region of Tamil Nadu over the next five days.

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, has issued a red weather alert indicating the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall of over 24.4 cm in one or two places in the Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur, and Karaikal areas on November 26 and the Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal areas on November 27. The delta districts may experience another round of heavy rainfall this week owing to an impending deep depression.

An RMC bulletin said the prevailing weather system concentrated into a depression on Monday (November 25, 2024) morning over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining East Equatorial Indian Ocean, about 530 km southeast of Trincomalee, 810 km southeast of Nagapattinam, 920 km southeast of Puducherry, and 1,000 km southeast of Chennai.

The depression is likely to move northwestwards and gather strength as a deep depression by Tuesday (November 26, 2024). It is further likely to continue to move towards the Tamil Nadu-Sri Lanka coasts over the next two days, the bulletin said.

The RMC has issued orange and yellow weather alerts, indicating varying intensity of heavy rainfall, for isolated places in various other delta districts and coastal districts between November 26 and November 30. On Tuesday, rainfall of very heavy intensity may lash six districts, including Thanjavur, Pudukottai, and Cuddalore, and it may be heavy over five districts, including Ramanathapuram and Chengalpattu.

Chennai and its neighbouring districts, which have been waiting for their share of the monsoon rainfall, may also be covered in this vigorous rainfall activity. The RMC has predicted heavy rainfall over isolated places in Chennai and its surrounding districts from November 27 to November 29. Heavy rainfall may continue over Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram districts on Saturday (November 30, 2024).

S. Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, RMC Chennai, said the weather system is being monitored for its further growth as a cyclone and its crossing point. The depression is still in the equatorial ocean and needs to move further.