Chennai likely to get rain as low pressure over Bay of Bengal intensifies

CHENNAI: A day after many localities in the city and outskirts received surprise evening spells, weathermen have forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in the city and suburbs for the next 48 hours. This, according to meteorologists, is due to the system over Bay of Bengal leaving a conducive atmosphere for convective rain over many parts of the state. With a fresh low pressure likely to form over north Andaman Sea on October 14, experts said the city and its neighbours may continue to get good pre-monsoon spells.
The regional meteorological centre, Chennai, has forecast, “The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Thunderstorms with light to moderate rain are likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 34C and 27C,” in the city for the next 48 hours.
N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, said many parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will receive light to moderate rain with thunderstorm in the next 24 hours due to a well-marked low pressure area over the Bay and an atmospheric circulation at an altitude of 1.5km over south Andhra Pradesh coast.
The city recorded 13.9mm in Meenambakkam and traces in Nungambakkam on Friday after nearly a week of dry spell.
According to IMD’s regional weather inference, a low pressure formed on October 9 over east-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Andaman sea has developed into a well-marked low pressure area on October 10. “It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over central Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours. There is also a possibility that the system may further intensify into a deep depression during the subsequent 24 hours. Further moving west-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh coast during October 12, forenoon or noon.”
IMD officials said many parts of north Tamil Nadu including Chennai will receive rainfall while the system is over the sea. Land temperatures in the city will rise and a dry spell may follow once the system enters the land.
Meteorologists said the onset of northeast monsoon may be delayed due to the late withdrawal of southwest monsoon.
In his update on Friday, weather blogger, Pradeep John said, “As the low develops and moves towards north Andhra Pradesh, convergence shifts to north Tamil Nadu and we can see good thunderstorms in the coming days.”