Northeast Monsoon Brings Heavy Rainfall to Tamil Nadu: Weather Alert and Preparedness Measures

The Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted significant rainfall across Tamil Nadu continuing for the upcoming week.

Chennai:

The Northeast Monsoon has officially commenced, bringing extensive rainfall throughout Tamil Nadu, with particular intensity in the northern, western, and southern regions.

According to the Chennai Regional Meteorological Department, a fresh low-pressure system is expected to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 21, which will likely move west-northwest and strengthen. Concurrently, another low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep region near Kerala and Karnataka, with predictions of it intensifying into a depression within 48 hours.

During the past 24 hours, rainfall measurements showed Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district receiving 18 cm, while Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur and Thekkadi in Theni both recorded 16 cm. Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi registered 12 cm of rainfall. Chennai residents experienced welcome relief from hot conditions as overnight showers brought 3 to 4 cm of rainfall across the city.

The Regional Meteorological Centre forecasts heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu for the next seven days. In the immediate 24-hour period, heavy to very heavy rain is anticipated in isolated locations within the Ghat areas of Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts. Heavy rainfall is also expected in numerous districts including Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Karur, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur.

With the potential formation of a new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal around October 22, Chennai and neighboring districts such as Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Ranipet, and Puducherry are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas on October 23.

The Tamil Nadu government is actively preparing for the monsoon season, with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewing preparedness measures at Chennai Corporation's Integrated Command and Control Centre on October 15. NDRF teams remain on standby, with 30 personnel distributed across five teams at Arakonam, while additional teams are positioned in Chennai and Tirunelveli.

The NDRF has stated, "All life-saving equipment, rubber boats, ropes, sniffer dogs, and deep-water rescue divers are on standby. A 24×7 control room is operational at both state and district levels, coordinating closely with NDRF teams."