Tamil Nadu Weather: Heavy Rain Alert Issued for 27 Dists, Chennai Braces for Thunderstorms

Tamil Nadu is set to experience widespread rainfall over the next two days, with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issuing heavy rain warnings for several districts as multiple weather systems influence conditions across the state.

According to the latest forecast from the Regional Meteorological Centre, 14 districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Thursday. The districts under alert include the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ariyalur, Thanjavur and Perambalur.

The weather is expected to intensify further on Friday, when as many as 27 districts have been placed under a yellow alert for heavy rainfall. The districts likely to be affected are the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Erode, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Karur, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem and Namakkal.

Meteorologists attribute the unsettled weather to an upper-air cyclonic circulation persisting over the south-east Arabian Sea and adjoining Kerala at an altitude of around 3.1 km above mean sea level. In addition, a trough extending from east Vidarbha to Tamil Nadu across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is providing favourable conditions for thunderstorm activity and rainfall across the state.

Chennai and its neighbouring areas are also likely to witness wet weather, although the city is not expected to receive heavy rain. The forecast indicates a partly cloudy sky over the next two days, with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated locations.

Daytime temperatures in the capital are expected to remain high despite the possibility of showers. The maximum temperature is likely to hover between 37°C and 38°C on Thursday before easing slightly to 36°C-37°C on Friday. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain around 28°C-29°C.

The latest observations show that maximum temperatures have fallen by 2°C to 3°C at isolated places across Tamil Nadu during the past 24 hours. However, temperatures continue to remain above normal in several districts. Vellore recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 40.3°C, while Tiruchirappalli Airport registered 40.1°C and Chennai Airport touched 40°C.

In contrast, the hill stations remained significantly cooler. Kodaikanal recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the hills at 13.6°C, while Coimbatore Airport reported the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at 23°C.

Several places have already received rainfall over the past day. Kodaikanal recorded 40 mm of rain, Thanjavur received 38.5 mm, Tiruttani measured 24.2 mm and Nagapattinam recorded 16.4 mm. Moderate rainfall was also reported from Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Coimbatore.

With widespread rain and thunderstorm activity expected to continue, residents in the districts under alert have been advised to remain cautious, particularly in low-lying and hilly areas where intense spells of rain could lead to localised disruptions.