CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is likely to see cooler temperatures, early-morning mist, cloudy skies over Chennai and spells of rain along the coast in the coming days, with heavy rainfall forecast at isolated places later this week, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said.
The RMC has forecast dry weather over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on January 5 and 6 along with mist and haze in the early morning hours, followed by light to moderate rain at a few places along coastal Tamil Nadu from January 7 to 11.
Heavy rain is likely at isolated places on January 9 over Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts, and Karaikal. On January 10, heavy rain may occur over Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Villuppuram districts, and the Puducherry-Karaikal region.
The weather office said a trough in easterly winds from the Maldives-Lakshadweep region and an upper air cyclonic circulation over equatorial Indian Ocean adjoining central parts of south Bay of Bengal are influencing the conditions.
Minimum temperatures are likely to fall by 2-3°C at a few places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between January 5 and 7, remaining below normal in some areas.
Ground frost is likely at isolated pockets over the higher reaches of the Nilgiris and the Kodaikanal hills in Dindigul district on January 5 and 6.
For January 5 and 6, minimum temperatures in Chennai and its suburbs are expected to range between 21-22°C, while maximum temperatures may hover around 29-30°C, with partly cloudy skies. Mist and haze are likely, too, during the early morning hours, according to the weather department's bulletin.