Tamil Nadu Latest Weather Report: Chennai Rains To Continue As Cyclonic Storm Forms In Bay Of Bengal

Relentless rainfall continued to hammer Chennai and its surrounding districts in Tamil Nadu, resulting in widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions on Thursday. Despite this, there seems to be no relief in sight for the southern state as per forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), predicted heavy rains, particularly along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu from December 1 to 4.

As per the Met Department, Chennai and five other districts in Tamil Nadu, including Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, and Kanchipuram, are expected to experience rain coupled with thunderstorms and lightning on Friday.

Social media visuals showcased the relentless rain pounding Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu, depicting individuals navigating through inundated streets donning raincoats or wielding umbrellas.

There hasn't been any declaration of holidays for schools in Chennai and neighboring districts for Friday, despite the closure of educational institutions on Thursday.

A flood alert has been sounded for low-lying areas and six villages along the Adyar river in Kanchipuram district, with water discharge from Chembarambakkam lake, as reported by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, the Puzhal lake in Chennai, also referred to as the Red Hills lake, reached its maximum capacity due to incessant rainfall over the preceding weeks in the capital city of Tamil Nadu. On Thursday, approximately 389 cusecs of water were released from the lake.

According to the latest bulletin from the IMD, a well-defined low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea has shifted west-northwestwards and presently lies over the southeast Bay of Bengal. There are expectations of its development into a depression and further intensification into a cyclonic storm by around December 3. Subsequently, it is anticipated to move northwestwards and make landfall along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts in the early hours of December 4 as a cyclonic storm.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Ripon Buildings on Thursday to assess the arrangements at the Command Control Centre in Chennai, responsible for monitoring the rainfall situation in the state. He also personally attended calls from residents through the 1913 helpline, launched by the Chennai Corporation, and directed officials to ensure prompt and efficient coordination among departments to address grievances.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from December 2 to 4, along with a similar warning for coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam on December 3 and 4, and Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh on December 4.

Moreover, heavy rainfall has been forecasted for Kerala, Mahe, Puducherry, and Karaikal for today.