Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s delta districts are reeling under heavy rainfall as the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued yellow and orange alerts for various regions on Thursday. While Chennai and nearby districts are under a yellow alert, an orange alert has been declared for the Delta districts, signaling intense to very intense rainfall.
The weather department predicts extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 24.4 cm in parts of Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai. Other areas, including Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, and Puducherry, may witness isolated heavy rainfall up to 24 cm. Coastal regions such as Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam are also expected to experience significant downpours.
The RMC forecasts continuous rain for northern Tamil Nadu and coastal regions from November 29 to December 2, accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 65 km/h. A cyclonic storm forming over the Bay of Bengal is advancing toward the Tamil Nadu coast, bringing steady rainfall. Currently, a deep depression is situated approximately 120 km east-southeast of Trincomalee and 550 km south-southeast of Chennai, with expectations of intensifying into a cyclonic storm within 12 hours.
This is the fourth weather system to emerge during the Northeast Monsoon season since October. While officials are yet to pinpoint the storm’s landfall, its trajectory suggests it will skim the Sri Lankan coastline before approaching Tamil Nadu. Airlines, including IndiGo, have issued advisories warning of disruptions to flight operations in Chennai, Tuticorin, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Salem due to the adverse weather. Travelers are advised to stay updated on flight schedules as conditions evolve.
