Cyclone Alert: Tamil Nadu Braces for Heavy Rainfall as Bay of Bengal System Intensifies

Heavy rainfall is anticipated in isolated areas across Cuddalore, Puducherry, and neighboring districts as weather conditions intensify.

Chennai:

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Friday that a low-pressure system currently over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 27.

Tamil Nadu is forecast to experience rainfall over the next two to three days due to this weather system, coinciding with an active Northeast monsoon season in the region.

According to the IMD bulletin, the low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal has been relatively stationary after moving slowly west-northwest within the same region.

"This system is projected to continue moving west-northwestwards, intensifying into a depression over the southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal by October 25, further developing into a deep depression by October 26, before transforming into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 27," the IMD reported.

In the past 24 hours, various parts of Tamil Nadu have experienced significant rainfall, with Pallipattu in Tiruvallur district recording the highest at 15 cm, followed by Nalumukku in Tirunelveli at 12 cm. The lowest rainfall was recorded in Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram district, measuring 1 cm, as per IMD data.

The current low-pressure system developed under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation early Friday.

The weather department predicts light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal through October 28. Heavy rainfall is expected in isolated locations within Cuddalore, Puducherry, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu districts.

For Chennai and surrounding districts, partially cloudy skies are expected with maximum temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures between 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. Residents should prepare for one or two spells of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over the next 24 to 48 hours.