Low pressure system: Heavy rains predicted in Chennai, adjoining districts today

Chennai (The Uttam Hindu): The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy rainfall in Chennai and the adjoining districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu on Wednesday. Heavy rains are also expected in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts on the same day. Moderate rainfall is predicted in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Virudhunagar, and Karaikal areas. Light to moderate rain may occur in many parts of the state, especially in North Coastal Tamil Nadu, while a few areas across the rest of the state will also experience showers. Puducherry and Karaikal are also likely to receive similar rainfall, with thunderstorms and lightning possible in isolated places. The rains are attributed to a low-pressure system forming over the southeast Bay of Bengal, influenced by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and nearby areas. This system is expected to intensify and move west-northwest towards the Tamil Nadu coast on December 18.

Heavy rains are likely in isolated places across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts, as well as Karaikal. There is a possibility of extreme rains between Marakkanam and Sriharikota due to interactions of westerly and easterly winds near south coastal Andhra Pradesh or north coastal Tamil Nadu. The stretch from Pondicherry to Nellore may also witness heavy to very heavy rainfall. Tamil Nadu has received 14 per cent excess rainfall during the ongoing northeast monsoon season, recording 447 mm against an average of 393 mm. Chennai registered 845 mm of rainfall, which is 16 per cent above average, while Coimbatore saw a 47 per cent increase. Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the sea. Those already at sea are urged to return to shore immediately. The current alert follows the devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal between November 29 and December 1, which brought intense rains and widespread damage. The cyclone led to a loss of 12 people, 2,11,139 hectares of land getting inundated, affecting crops significantly even as 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors were destroyed, 23,664 electric poles, 997 transformers, 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts and 417 tanks were also destroyed. It may be noted that Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi districts recorded over 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, equivalent to an entire season’s average. The disaster resulted in severe flooding, extensive crop damage, affected 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals across the state. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin requested Rs 2,000 crore as interim relief from the National Disaster Response Fund. The Tamil Nadu government’s initial damage assessment report estimated relief and reconstruction costs at Rs 2,475 crore. The Central government has sanctioned Rs 944 crore as interim relief.