CHENNAI: A deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal weakened into a depression on Saturday morning and crossed the northeast Sri Lanka coast close to Mullaittivu in the evening. Under its influence, Chennai experienced cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle throughout the day. A yellow alert has been issued for Chennai and neighbouring districts on Sunday, the meteorological department said.
The Regional Meteorological Centre said that as of 5.30 pm, the system, which had been moving at a speed of 8 km/h during the previous six hours, crossed the northeast Sri Lanka coast and lay centred about 400 km southeast of Chennai. It is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over the next 12 hours.
Under its influence, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram districts and Puducherry on Sunday. Light to moderate rain at a few places, with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two places, is likely over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Monday.
Surface wind speeds of 35 to 45 km/h are expected to prevail over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry areas. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along these coasts.
Those already at sea have been asked to avoid the southeast and southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining east equatorial Indian Ocean, including areas along and off the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin region on Saturday.