Tamil Nadu Weather: Chennai Welcomes New Year With Rains; Heavy Downpour In Perambur, Ennore

Parts of Chennai ushered in the New Year with a spell of heavy and widespread rainfall, as an active trough of easterlies combined with a cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal triggered intense weather activity across the city and its suburbs. The rain spell, which began late on December 31 and continued into the early hours of January 1, brought sharp variations in rainfall intensity across zones, with North Chennai bearing the brunt of the showers.

According to data released by the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (TNDRRA), rainfall recorded between 8.30 am on December 31, 2025, and 8.30 am on January 1, 2026, showed that several neighbourhoods received well above-normal precipitation for a 24-hour period. The highest rainfall was logged at Perambur (Zone 06, Ward 67), which recorded 102 mm, followed by Ennore (Zone 01, Ward 03) with 92.8 mm. Kathivakkam (Zone 01, Ward 02) also saw significant rainfall of 71.1 mm, indicating concentrated thunderstorm activity along the northern coastal belt.

Other parts of North and Central Chennai reported moderate to heavy rainfall. Wimco Nagar received 58.2 mm, while Maduravoyal recorded 48.3 mm. Anna Nagar West saw 46.2 mm, and Manali (Ward 19) logged 42.4 mm. Multiple gauges in Manali New Town reported rainfall ranging between 38 mm and 39 mm, underscoring the widespread nature of the system. Interior neighbourhoods such as Valasaravakkam, Korattur, and Kolathur recorded rainfall between 33 mm and 38 mm.

In contrast, southern and central pockets of the city received relatively lighter rainfall. Aminjikarai recorded 23.7 mm, Mugalivakkam received 21.8 mm, while Saligramam logged 11.6 mm. The Ice House area near Marina recorded 12.9 mm, reflecting a clear north-to-south gradient in rainfall intensity across Chennai.

Weather observers noted that the rains exceeded forecasts. Popular weather blogger R Pradeep John remarked, "What a start to the 2026 New Year! North Chennai is scoring 100 mm. Light to moderate rains are happening across the city. This was well above expectations, especially since most models showed hardly any meaningful rainfall." He added that the system also brought rain to interior districts such as Karur, Dindigul, and Tiruvannamalai, defying model projections.

Another weather handle, Chennai Rains, posted on X warning residents of intermittent heavy spells, stating that a fairly intense thunderstorm was hovering off the coast and could trigger additional rainfall over land. Areas such as Anna Nagar, Kovalam, and the ECR stretch experienced intermittent showers through the night.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said moderate rain is very likely at many places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, and Tiruvannamalai over the next few hours, while light rain is expected at isolated places over Dindigul, Karur, and Namakkal. Isolated showers have also been reported from Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur.

Meteorologists indicate that the cyclonic circulation is likely to persist for the next few days, potentially keeping monsoon dynamics active during the first couple of weeks of 2026. Residents have been advised to remain cautious, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas, as further spells of rain cannot be ruled out.