Tamil Nadu Weather: Chennai Braces For Rain; Thunderstorms Across Several Districts

Chennai, March 18: Several districts across Tamil Nadu are expected to receive rainfall on Tuesday, with weather conditions turning favourable due to atmospheric changes, according to forecasts and independent weather observers.

At least seven districts - Tiruppur, Tenkasi, Coimbatore, Madurai, Theni, Nilgiris, and Salem - are likely to experience isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rain. Meanwhile, Chennai is expected to receive light showers with thunder and lightning, offering brief respite from the prevailing heat.

Weather blogger Pradeep John noted that rainfall activity is not confined to a single region but spread across much of the state's interior belt. "With a slight shift in the system, rains are likely across many interior districts of Tamil Nadu today. It is difficult to pinpoint any one specific district, as rainfall chances are widespread," he said in a social media post.

He highlighted a corridor stretching from Krishnagiri through Salem, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai as particularly favourable for rain. Neighbouring districts including Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Namakkal, and Vellore are also expected to receive showers. In western Tamil Nadu, districts such as Coimbatore, Erode, and the Nilgiris may witness rainfall, while southern districts including Virudhunagar, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, and Thoothukudi are also likely to be affected.

Some areas could even experience hailstorms, a phenomenon the blogger attributed to a disturbance in upper atmospheric winds known as a "kink" in the jet stream.

Explaining the science behind the weather pattern, he said jet streams - fast-moving air currents located around 12 km above the Earth's surface - can sometimes develop bends. These bends, or kinks, create conditions conducive to cloud formation and vertical growth, increasing the likelihood of rainfall. Due to such a kink, multiple districts in Tamil Nadu are expected to receive rain through March 20.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has also forecast thunderstorms with light rain for Chennai and its surrounding areas over the next two days. The city is expected to record maximum temperatures of around 33°C and minimum temperatures between 24°C and 25°C, with partly cloudy skies.

Across Tamil Nadu, there has been no significant change in maximum temperatures in the past 24 hours, though some places recorded temperatures slightly below normal. Minimum temperatures have dipped marginally in isolated areas but remain above normal in a few locations.

Meteorological data indicates that a trough currently extends from the Gulf of Mannar to south interior Karnataka, contributing to the unstable weather conditions. Additional upper-air circulations and troughs across central India are also influencing the regional weather pattern.

On Monday, Karur Paramathi recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 37.5°C, while Tiruthani registered the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at 21.5°C. In hill regions, Kodaikanal recorded a chilly 9.7°C.

With increased cloud cover and scattered rainfall expected over the coming days, residents across the state can anticipate some relief from rising temperatures, particularly in the interior districts.