Rains lashed many parts of Chennai and neighbouring districts on Monday, prompting the administration to announce holiday for schools.
Ennore near Chennai recorded the highest rainfall of 11 cm in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 AM Monday, the weather office said.
A low pressure area over Bay of Bengal which was lying there since 10 November had "strengthened slightly" on Monday but would move northwards in the next two days, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters in Chennai.
As a result, rains will gradually decrease in the next two days, he said.
Representational image. PTI
In the last 24 hours, rains lashed parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu.
For the next two days, there could be rains in one or two places in northern coastal districts such as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram and Cuddalore, besides neighbouring Puducherry, he said.
Heavy rains were likely in one or two places in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts during this period, Balachandran said.
Chennai and its suburbs will witness overcast skies, he added.
Schools remained closed in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts on Monday following rains.
They were closed since there were widespread rains since Sunday, with forecast of more rains on Monday, officials said. Meanwhile, the combined storage levels of Poondi, Cholavaram, Red Hills and Chembarambakkam stood at 4,200 mcft (million cubic feet) as against the full capacity of 11,057 mcft.
The storage was a mere 1,058 mcft on the same day last year, according to data made available by Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB).
Northeast monsoon, which brings the bulk of rainfall for Tamil Nadu, has been active over the state. It had set-in during the last week of October.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy rains in Chennai and other coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, said several media reports.
According to an NDTV report, Chief Minister E Palaniswami reviewed the monsoon preparedness. "There's no water-logging in Chennai now. Inundation was mainly in low-lying areas. The 434 crore storm water drain project Jayalalithaa had launched is nearing completion," Palaniswami was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Chennai, on Sunday night, received sharp shower of rains due to a depression formed in the Bay of Bengal, reported India Today. The report added that due to the current depression, Chennai will have good spells with intervals until Wednesday with a predicted 70 percent rainfall for Monday.
In the last 21 hours starting 8.30am on Sunday, according to The Times of India, Chennai's Nungambakkam observatory has recorded 6.6cm of rain.
Many of the city roads, including Poonamalee High Road, were waterlogged. Some of the interior roads in localities, such as Chintadirpet and Kilpauk, were also heavily inundated after the sharp, reported The Hindu.
According to Skymet Weather, low pressure area is persisting over Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining area. A cyclonic circulation could also be seen extending up to 7.6 km above sea level. Strong winds with moderate lightning are also expected over the city of Chennai during the next 24 to 48 hours, added the report.
The new low pressure, according to The New Indian Express report, is similar to the one that brought heavy rains in the first week of this month. However, cyclone warning centre has said that the intensity of the spells can only be predicted on an hourly basis. The centre did not rule out the chances of receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall, added the report.
The new low pressure might also provide good showers to the North Tamil Nadu coast while Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Nagar and Puducherry is to receive much rain, India Today reported.
With inputs from PTI
Published Date: Nov 13, 2017 09:27 am | Updated Date: Nov 13, 2017 03:20 pm
