Chennai: The city and several parts of Tamil Nadu are witnessing widespread rainfall this morning, following a forecast from the Meteorological Department predicting heavy showers across a dozen districts. The downpour, which began in the early hours, has brought relief from the heat but also prompted authorities to issue immediate weather warnings.
TN weather: Orange and Yellow alerts activated across the state
The Chennai Meteorological Department has issued a three-hour warning, categorizing the intensity of the expected rainfall. An Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rain is in effect until 10:00 AM today for 13 districts, including Ariyalur, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Ranipet, Thanjavur, Tiruvallur, Thiruvarur, Vellore, and Villupuram. This signifies that authorities and residents should be prepared for significant weather events.
Concurrently, a Yellow Alert has been issued for several interior districts, including Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Karur, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai, indicating isolated heavy rainfall.
Widespread rainfall drenches Chennai and suburbs
The forecast has materialized in the state capital, with steady rain reported across numerous neighborhoods. Areas including Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Villivakkam, Padi, Ayanavaram, Pulianthope, Central Chennai, Egmore, Vyasapadi, and Perambur have experienced showers. The rain has also extended to suburban regions such as Kolathur, Ambattur, and Avadi, leading to waterlogged streets in some low-lying areas.
The sky condition in Chennai is forecast to remain partly cloudy throughout the day, with a continued possibility of moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 32° Celsius, with a minimum of 26-27° Celsius.
Heavy rain forecast extends to 12 districts
Beyond the capital region, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall specifically for the hilly areas of Coimbatore and several other southern and western districts. The list includes The Nilgiris, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari. This widespread activity signals a robust weather system affecting a large part of the state.
Tamil Nadu weatherman predicts onset of Northeast monsoon
Echoing the intensity of the weather system, popular independent forecaster Pradeep John, known as the Tamil Nadu Weatherman, had earlier indicated the likelihood of significant rain. On his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he stated, “A lot of cloud clusters are moving towards Chennai city from the sea.”
He further added a promising outlook for the season, remarking, “Tomorrow, the monsoon is certain to start. There will be widespread rain in all the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu from Ramanathapuram to Chennai. Tomorrow you will wake up to a monsoon morning. This is just the beginning, we can expect a lot of rain this month as we go on.” His comments suggest that the current showers are a precursor to the formal commencement of the Northeast Monsoon, which is crucial for Tamil Nadu’s water resources.