Trough likely to trigger rainfall in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: While the low-pressure formation over the Bay of Bengal in the first week of July did not bring much rain to the city, a new active trough on the east coast may be more successful in bringing light to moderate showers.
Though the trough is predicted to bring rain to areas along the Western Ghats including Pollachi, Kinathukadavu and western Coimbatore, the city may experience some isolated and patchy rain, say weather experts. The regional meteorological centre has predicted heavy showers in the Nilgiris, Theni and Salem districts that may extend to isolated places in Coimbatore until Thursday.
“There is an active trough in the west coast, extending from Maharashtra to Kerala. Whenever there is an active trough, all coastal areas and around the Western Ghats receive good rain,” said Skymet Weather Services chief meteorologist Mahesh Palawat. “However, showers will be mostly restricted to foothills and places on the Western Ghats.”
Areas most likely to receive showers are the Palakkad Pass, Kinathukidavu, Valparai, Pollachi, Siruvani Ghats and Western parts of Coimbatore, said Coimbatore-based weather blogger Santhosh Krishnan. “Even if the rain is expected to be not too heavy, we will have cloudy weather and windy, chill conditions within the city due to passing showers. However, dams are expected to receive heavy rainfall.”
In July first week, experts predicted 15cm to 20cm rain over the fortnight. However, the weather station in Peelamedu recorded hardly 12-13mm.
The ghats section, where rainfall is not always cumulatively measured, received heavy rain this monsoon, said Tamil Nadu water supply and drainage board officials. As a result, people living within the western zone of the civic body are benefiting. “Last year during this month, we were hardly able to give 65MLD water from Siruvani to the corporation. But this year, from June 15, we have been giving more than 100MLD, including 101.38MLD on Monday, which is as per the scheme,” said an engineer. “Water level in the dam is 27.65ft, which is healthy. It will go up if we get more rain.”