Weather Research Center Director Das has explained about the sudden heavy rain that lasted for more than about 40 minutes in Chennai yesterday (Oct. 20) evening.
As the northeast monsoon has intensified across Tamil Nadu, continuous heavy rain has been occurring since yesterday in Chennai and other northern Tamil Nadu coastal districts.
In this regard, the weather director said,
Due to the low-pressure area that formed at 5:30 a.m. today over the southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining southern Sri Lanka, there is a possibility of heavy rain in southern Tamil Nadu for the next 6 days.
A new low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Oct. 23. It may intensify into a cyclone. Warnings will be issued accordingly, depending on the intensity of the system. The situation is being assessed, and related information will be released later.
Since the wind speed is currently low, the impact will not be that severe. Therefore, Chennai and several other districts may receive moderate rain, with heavy rain in a few places.
Why did Chennai get sudden heavy rain yesterday?
Due to an atmospheric circulation over North Tamil Nadu, heavy rain was recorded in a few places in Chennai after 6 p.m. yesterday. In particular, heavy rain was recorded in MGR Nagar.
Meanwhile, the low-pressure area that formed this morning has developed along the coast, so it is not very strong. As of now, there is no chance of a cyclone.
Red alert withdrawn..
Last Sunday, when a sudden red alert was issued for Chennai, a rain alert was also sent to mobile phones across Tamil Nadu.
However, within just a few hours, the atmospheric circulation weakened, and the red alert issued for Chennai on Sunday was withdrawn.
Where will there be very heavy rain today?
Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places, accompanied by thunder and lightning and strong winds (at speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour).
Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Karur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts, as well as Karaikal, may experience heavy rainfall at one or two places, accompanied by thunder and lightning and strong winds (at speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour).
In many places in the rest of Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry, moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning and strong winds (at speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour) may occur.
Fishermen..
Since sea winds in the Bay of Bengal may blow at speeds of 35 - 40 km per hour, fishermen may avoid going out to sea.
