The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall across 12 districts in northern Tamil Nadu and the delta region. Rain is expected to spread to other northern districts, such as Ranipet and Vellore, by Thursday. Additionally, Chennai and its neighboring areas are likely to experience significant rainfall on the same day. Winds may reach speeds of up to 60 kmph over the southwest and adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal.
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are prepared for emergencies, with teams stationed at 26 locations across Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts. The Tamil Nadu government has also prepared 219 boats for deployment in response to rain-related incidents in Chennai and other regions.
Notably, the monsoon was anticipated to arrive in Tamil Nadu on October 20, which is five days earlier than usual, as the typical onset can vary by nine days before or after the expected date. The RMC has indicated that a well-marked low-pressure area has developed into a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, currently situated approximately 490 km southeast of Chennai. This depression is expected to make landfall between Puducherry and Nellore, near Chennai, in the early hours of Thursday.
