Heavy rain likely in Chennai, neighbouring districts for 2 days

CHENNAI: As the northeast monsoon is likely to arrive this weekend, IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over the city's neighbouring districts Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu on October 31 and November 1. The forecast assumes significance as the reservoirs that supply drinking water to the city are located in the neighbouring districts.
The agency had forecast the onset of the northeast monsoon to be around October 29. Private forecasters said the rains will be widespread on October 30 and November 1, and bloggers said Chennai may also receive heavy spells on those days.
For the next 48 hours, IMD has forecast thunderstorms and lightning with moderate rainfall over some areas in the city and its suburbs. Skies may be generally cloudy, and temperatures may be around a maximum of 33 deg C and a minimum of 24 deg C.
The agency has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over isolated places in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram and heavy rain at isolated places in Chengalpattu on October 31 and November 1. IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall for a few other north, interior and southern districts.
IMD said a circulation in the lower part of the upper atmosphere over north Tamil Nadu may influence the rain activity.
"With setting in of northeasterly winds in the lower tropospheric levels over Bay of Bengal and extreme south peninsular India, the northeast monsoon rains are likely to commence over southeast peninsular India around October 29," an IMD bulletin said.
Skymet Weather, in its blog, said the intensity and spread of rainfall over north coastal Tamil Nadu will increase over the next two days and heavy and widespread rainfall can be expected on October 31 and November 1. Blogger Pradeep John tweeted, "Waiting for October 31 and November 1 for the start of widespread rainfall in Chennai city."