Chennai, coastal Tamil Nadu on alert as low-pressure area forms over Bay of Bengal
A low-pressure system that is developing over the southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall throughout parts of Tamil Nadu, including the Chennai region
Weather Alert for Chennai Region
The RMC, Chennai has issued an orange-level rainfall warning for four districts, including Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and the Karaikal region, where rainfall amounts of 12 to 20 cm are possible. Besides this, five districts like Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai are likely to experience heavy rainfall, while the remaining areas in Tamil Nadu along with Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to witness light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning.
Meteorological data indicate that the upper-air cyclonic circulation over Sri Lanka and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal has developed into a low-pressure area, extending up to about 5.8 km above sea level, and is likely to move west-north-westwards slowly during the next 24 hours. The system is feeding moist air into the region and re-energising the northeast-monsoon rains over coastal Tamil Nadu.
For the next few days, November 17 included, most of the coastal districts, including Chennai, are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall with thunder and lightning, and isolated heavy to very heavy rain over Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Villupuram districts.
With the increased rainfall, authorities are urging residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant because water-logging, disruption of traffic, and power outages cannot be ruled out.
