Asani effect: Rains all over Chennai

CHENNAI: Even as the severe cyclonic storm Asani over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved west­northwestwards with a speed of 5 kmph and lay centered on Tuesday, many places in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai recieved moderate rains with thunderstorm.

Rains are expected to continue in Chennai and nearby areas till afternoon.

According to RMC, the highest amount of rainfall recorded in The Nilgiris was 7 cm, followed by Erode and Coimbatore with 5 cm each, Krishnagiri, Tirupur 3 cm each, 2 cm each in Salem, Dindigul, and Namakkal, and Chennai recorded 0.3 cm of rainfall.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly northwestwards till tonight and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh coast. Thereafter, it is expected to recurve north­northeastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.

The severe storm will weaken gradually into a cylconic storm during the next 24 hours.

The Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) Chennai forecast thunderstorm with light to moderate rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Coimbatore, Tirupur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur , Tiruvannamali and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 1-3 hours.

Weather bloggers stated that rains of moderate intensity is heading towards Chennai and suburbs from Northern districts. Places along the coast could see heavier spells.