Tamil Nadu Weather: 14 Dists To Get Heavy Rains Today - Is It A Holiday For Schools On Oct 24?

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a forecast predicting heavy rainfall across several districts of Tamil Nadu over the next two days, driven by shifting weather systems over both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Weather Forecast

Today (Thursday, October 23): Fourteen districts are on alert for heavy rains. These are:
Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Theni, Dindigul, Nilgiris, Erode, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, and the Ghat areas of Coimbatore.

Tomorrow (Friday, October 24): The intensity is expected to ease slightly, with six districts forecast to receive heavy rains: Nilgiris, Erode, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, and the Ghat areas of Coimbatore.

The current weather activity is due to two primary systems:

Arabian Sea Influence: The well-marked low-pressure area that caused recent rains has moved inland and weakened. However, the associated cyclonic circulation is now pulling westerly winds, which will particularly affect districts like Kanyakumari and the Western Nilgiris. This may also lead to evening or nighttime thunderstorms in interior areas like Ranipet and Chennai.

New Bay of Bengal System: A new low-pressure area is likely to form over the Southeast Bay of Bengal near the Andaman Sea on Friday. This system is expected to intensify into a Depression and move towards the coast, which could influence weather patterns over the weekend. Fishermen are strongly advised to avoid the seas off the Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa coasts due to very rough conditions.

Chennai Specific Forecast:

The city can expect a few spells of moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. The maximum temperature will be around 31°C, with a minimum between 24-25°C.

Will Schools Remain Open or Closed?

This is a critical question for parents and students.

Decision-Making Authority: The decision to close schools rests entirely with the respective District Collectors.

Current Status: As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding school closures for tomorrow, Friday, October 24.

What to Expect:

Based on the heavy rain forecast for several districts, an announcement is likely. These decisions are often communicated late in the evening or early on Friday morning.

Parents and students are advised to monitor official announcements from their district administration and local news channels closely for updates on school status.