Rains to continue in Chennai; 27 TN districts issued orange, yellow alerts
As many as 27 districts have been issued, orange and yellow alerts on Thursday predicting heavy to very rainfall
Rains in Chennai (Photo: Manivasagan)
CHENNAI: The moderate to heavy rain witnessed by Chennai and neighbouring districts on Wednesday is likely to continue for the next 24 hours with the low-pressure area well marked over the Bay of Bengal, said the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), issuing orange, yellow alerts to 27 districts for Thursday, predicting heavy to very rainfall.
The well-marked low-pressure area lay over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Sri Lanka coast on Wednesday with associated upper-air cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-tropospheric levels. The system is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards towards the Sri Lanka-Tamil Nadu coasts in the next 24 hours.
The weather department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai districts on Thursday. Several districts of coastal and adjoining districts – Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Tiruchy, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi – are likely to receive heavy rain and have been issued yellow warning.
Similarly, heavy rainfall is likely to occur over The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Kanniyakumari districts on December 13. In addition, a wind warning has been issued for coastal districts for the next two days as strong wind speed is likely to reach 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea for the next two days, while those in the deep sea are urged to return to the shore immediately.
The rainfall activity is expected to gradually reduce during the weekend with intense spells to resume from next week. At least nine coastal districts such as Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram are expected to witness heavy rainfall on December 16 and 17 (Monday and Tuesday).
