State likely to get normal rainfall in 2019: Met

Since October 1 till Saturday, the State received 43 cm of rainfall, which was short by just 1 cm, Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director N Puviarasan said.

“Tamil Nadu normally receives 44 cm of rainfall (from the northeast monsoon season). This will be achieved in a day or two. So, normal quantity of rainfall received during the northeast monsoon season will be met this year,” the Director told media. “The heavy rainfall spell was due to the presence of a prevailing upper air circulation,” Puviarasan added.

This led to Cuddalore and Thiruthuraipoondi in Nagapattinam district recording the highest rainfall of 8 cm in the last 24 hours ending at 0830 hours on Saturday.

On Saturday, Tirunelveli and Tiruvarur also received at least seven cm of rainfall. Chennai received about 4 cm of rainfall. Other districts, including Karaikal, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Karaikal and Thanjavur also received moderate rainfall during the day. Until Saturday, Chennai received about 60 cm rainfall this season.

Puviarasan said three cities in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry experience rainfall deficiency during the northeast monsoon period. These were Vellore (26), Perambalur (24) and Chennai (13), while Puducherry had a rainfall deficiency of 28 per cent.

On the forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puviarasan said heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur over Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts in the next 24-48 hours due to the presence of the upper air circulation.

Chennai and its neighbourhood are expected to be cloudy with light or moderate showers in one or two places in the next 24-48 hours, Puviarasan said. The regional meteorological centre (RMC) stated that the maximum and minimum temperatures is likely to be 29 degree Celsius and 24 degree Celsius respectively.