Tamil Nadu Weather: 17 Dists To Get Heavy Rains Today; Light Showers In Chennai Predicted For 2 Days

Heavy rains are predicted to lash in parts of Tamil Nadu as 17 districts are on yellow alert on Monday.

Heavy Rain Prediction

Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Tenkasi districts are predicted to get heavy rains today, the Regional Meteorological Centre said in a statement.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu's capital, is expected to get thunderstorm and lightning with light to moderate rain in some areas for the next two days.

Early Monsoon

Weather blogger R. Pradeep John noted that an Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation (UAC) has triggered widespread rainfall across Tamil Nadu, with more showers expected in northern regions till Wednesday. Post-Wednesday, rainfall activity is likely to decrease in northern Tamil Nadu but increase along the west coast and Western Ghats, benefiting Kerala, Karnataka's coastal areas, and the Cauvery catchment belt.

He said, "What this UAC has indirectly done is activating the monsoon winds and pulling them up in latitude. So heavy rains for Kerala, Valparai, Nilgiris (Gudalur and Avalanche belts) and Karnataka coastal and cauvery catchment belt. Once it develops in Arabian sea it will further strengthen the monsoon winds. There is also one more low pressure to form in Bay of Bengal after 27th May.

So both Arabian and Bay of Bengal will have twin systems simultaneously. Unless Arabian sea system moves towards Oman belt, the monsoon flow wont be cut off. So a great start to monsoon areas even before June month starts. Top 24 hours Rainfall in State and Chennai ending 8.30 am on 19.05.2025 is enclosed."

Several regions reported significant rainfall on Sunday, with Kallakurichi's Rishivandhiyam receiving the highest at 14 cm. Other notable rainfall figures include:

13 cm: Kalayanallur (Kallakurichi), Rasipuram (Namakkal), Namakkal, Annamalai Nagar (Cuddalore), Tiruvaiyaru (Thanjavur), Pullambadi (Thiruchirappalli), Thiyagadurgam (Kallakurichi)

11 cm: Mettur AWS (Salem), Rameswaram (Ramanathapuram), Manalurpet (Kallakurichi), Kallakudi (Thiruchirappalli), Lalpet & Vepur (Cuddalore), Sulangurichi (Kallakurichi)

10 cm: Suthamalli Dam (Ariyalur), Thirumanur (Ariyalur), Lower Anaicut (Thanjavur), Mettur (Salem), Tiruchirappalli Airport

Temperature Trends:

The state has seen a slight rise in maximum temperatures, with Erode recording the highest at 37.0°C, while Karur Paramathi registered the lowest minimum temperature at 20.5°C.