Chennai may get moderate rain starting Thursday; low pressure likely to form over Bay of Bengal

CHENNAI: A low pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal on Thursday ahead of the onset of northeast monsoon. This is likely to bring rainfall to Chennai and many parts of Tamil Nadu in the coming days.
IMD deputy director general S Balachandran said the low pressure was likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal on October 20. “It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal by October 22. It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over west-central Bay of Bengal during the subsequent 48 hours,” he said.
The IMD has forecast moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning over some areas of Chennai and the suburbs in the next 48 hours. The skies may be partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures may be around 33-34 degrees and 26 degrees Celsius.
In its five-day forecast, the IMD said many districts in west, central and south Tamil Nadu are likely to receive heavy rainfall on October 20 and 21. The agency has also forecast heavy rainfall in many northern districts of Tamil Nadu including Kancheepuram and Chengelpet on October 22.
Earlier, the IMD said the northeast monsoon was likely to arrive in the fourth week of October.