Chennai: The weather department has issued a warning for heavy rain in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu starting Tuesday.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), a low-pressure system over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify and move towards the Tamil Nadu coast within the next two days, leading to rainfall beginning Tuesday.
This low-pressure area is likely to form due to an upper air cyclonic circulation over the southern Andaman Sea and nearby regions, including the southeast Bay of Bengal.
The RMC forecasts heavy rain across many areas in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, with thunderstorms and lightning expected in some spots.
Heavy to very heavy rain is anticipated in isolated areas of Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts, along with the Karaikal area. Additionally, heavy rain is also predicted for isolated areas in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Puducherry.
On Wednesday, light to moderate rainfall is expected across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with isolated thunderstorms and lightning as well. Heavy to very heavy rain is forecasted for isolated places in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, as well as in Puducherry.
Isolated rain is also predicted in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts.
During the current northeast monsoon season, Tamil Nadu has seen a 14% increase in rainfall, totaling 447 mm compared to the average of 393 mm. Chennai alone has recorded 845 mm of rain, 16% above the average, while Coimbatore experienced a notable 47% rise in rainfall.
Fishermen are advised to refrain from going to sea, and those already out there should return to shore immediately.
This warning comes in the wake of Cyclone Fengal, which affected Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from November 29 to December 1. Cyclone Fengal brought significant rainfall, causing severe damage, including 12 fatalities and the inundation of over 211,139 hectares of agricultural land, leading to substantial losses for farmers. The damage from the cyclone was extensive, affecting 1,649 kilometers of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, 997 transformers, 9,576 kilometers of roads, and many homes.
Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi districts recorded over 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, amounting to a full season’s worth of rain, which resulted in major flooding and crop destruction. The Tamil Nadu government reported that 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals were impacted by the disaster.
In response, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting Rs 2,000 crore as interim relief from the National Disaster Response Fund. The state government has also submitted a preliminary damage assessment report estimating a need for Rs 2,475 crore for relief and reconstruction, while the central government approved Rs 944 crore in interim relief for the affected areas.