Low-pressure area forms, likely to become cyclone; coastal Tamil Nadu to receive intense rainfall in coming days
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert to five districts for the next 24 hours.
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CHENNAI: A low-pressure area formed on Wednesday over southwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining west central Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu and the south Andhra Pradesh coast. Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur over several districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert to five districts for the next 24 hours.
"A low- pressure area has formed over southwest adjoining west central Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level on Wednesday. However, the associated cyclonic circulation now extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level," noted a RMC bulletin.
It is very likely to move northeastwards and concentrate into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by Friday morning. The system is likely to move northeastwards, intensify further and reach northeast and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal on Saturday. Under the influence of the system, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur over Theni, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
On May 24, as the system gets intensified further into a depression, it triggers heavy rain over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu. The rest of the state is expected to receive light to moderate rain for the next three days.
The state witnessed deficit rainfall during the summer season, as several districts of western ghats and interior districts of Tamil Nadu received intense summer spells recently. Tamil Nadu recorded 16 percent excess rainfall with 124 mm against the average rainfall 107 mm. Of which, the highest amount of rainfall received in Dindigul district is 261 mm which is a 75 percent excess spell.
The weather department has issued warnings for fishermen not to venture into the sea till May 26. As squally weather with wind speed reaching 40 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over Comorin Area, Gulf of Mannar, south Tamilnadu coast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. Fishermen Fishermen out in the deep sea are advised to return to the coast by Friday.
Meanwhile, the rainfall activity will gradually decrease from next week in Tamil Nadu. So, the maximum temperature is likely to increase by 2 to 3 degree Celsius than usual in some parts of the state.
