NE monsoon sets in TN; several districts to get heavy rains

CHENNAI: The Northeast monsoon commenced over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Saturday. Several districts of Tamil Nadu are likely to witness heavy rains for the next few days due to the downward atmospheric circulation over the Bay of Bengal.

"Under the influence of setting in of northeasterly winds in the lower tropospheric levels over Bay of Bengal and South Peninsular India, the Northeast Monsoon rains have commenced over coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and adjoining areas of south Coastal Andhra Pradesh today," said Dr S Balachandran, Deputy Director- General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Center (RMC).

The centre predicted heavy rain, likely to occur over Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu till November 2.

As the cyclonic circulation pattern is likely to change, five districts - Ranipet, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram, Vellore and Tirupattur are expected to receive very heavy rain on October 31 and November 1.

In Chennai, the sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Thunderstorms and lightning with light to moderate rain are likely to occur in some areas. The maximum and minimum temperature is likely to be around 33 degree Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

According to RMC, during the last 24 hours. The highest amount of rainfall recorded in Cuddalore was 8 cm, followed by Tirunelveli 6 cm, Villupuram 4 cm, Perambalur 3 cm, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, and Krishnagiri received 2 cm of rainfall each.