Chennai Rains To Hit Hotspot Areas: Intense Downpours Expected This Week

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has predicted heavy rain spells to commence over north Tamil Nadu and delta districts starting Monday, October 14, 2024, with an intensification expected on October 15 and 16. A low-pressure area formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal early on October 14 is anticipated to lead to widespread rainfall across the state, marking the onset of the Northeast monsoon.

Rainfall is expected to gradually increase throughout the week, with heavy to very heavy rain of up to 12 cm forecast for isolated locations in nine districts, including Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Pudukottai. Chennai and its neighboring districts are also likely to experience substantial rainfall.

On October 15, intense rainfall is anticipated in isolated areas within eight districts, including Chennai. The following day, October 16, may bring extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in some locations within Chennai and surrounding regions.

The RMC's latest observations indicate that the low-pressure area is likely to strengthen into a well-marked low-pressure system over Chennai on October 14 before moving towards the northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjacent southern Andhra Pradesh coasts over the next two days. Meanwhile, a depression over the central Arabian Sea is expected to shift towards the Oman coast during the same period. The interaction of these two weather systems will result in moisture-laden clouds entering the region, causing intense rainfall.

Several weather stations across Tamil Nadu reported moderate to heavy rainfall until 6 a.m. on October 14. Notable measurements included Coimbatore with 6 cm and Salem and Ramanathapuram, each receiving 4 cm. Budalur in the Thanjavur district recorded the highest rainfall in the state, with 12 cm over the past 24 hours. Other areas that experienced heavy rain include Karaikal and Coimbatore South (8 cm each), along with Andipatti in Theni district, Hindustan University in Kancheepuram district, DGP Office in Chennai, and Sattur in Virudhunagar district (7 cm each).

In and around Chennai, automatic rain gauges reported rainfall of 5 cm at VIT University and YMCA Nandanam, while Meenambakkam, Puzhal, and Nungambakkam recorded 2 cm each.

The withdrawal of the Southwest monsoon within a day or two is expected to facilitate the simultaneous onset of easterly and northeasterly winds, leading to Northeast monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu, as per a bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Chennai-based weather blogger Pradeep John, known as 'Tamil Nadu Weatherman,' commented, "Currently, an upper air circulation is noted in the Bay of Bengal. We expect this to intensify into a low-pressure system, eventually developing into a depression and moving west-northwest towards north Chennai and south Andhra, particularly around Nellore."

He further stated that on October 16 and 17, there is a likelihood of very heavy rainfall, potentially reaching up to 20 cm in various locations across north Tamil Nadu and the coastal regions of south Andhra. The hotspot area lies between Pondicherry and Nellore, with Chennai positioned within this zone, indicating a need for increased vigilance on that day.