More rains expected in Tamil Nadu: MET office

Another round of heavy rains is lashing Tamil Nadu as the Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in most parts of the state owing to the trough of low pressure formed over the Maldives and Lakshadweep coasts. The rains would also pound the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry.

Tamil Nadu received torrential rains since the onset of North-East monsoons.

Followed by the downpour, the coastal districts witnessed heavy rains influenced by the trough of low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka. The trough of low pressure persisted over the Kanyakumari coast on Saturday bringing in ample rains in most coastal districts and a few interior districts. Under these conditions, yet another trough of low pressure was predicted by the Met Department. The officials forecast heavy to very heavy rains in most parts of the state.

Regional Meteorological Director SR Ramanan, said the trough of low pressure that was persisting over the Bay of Bengal on Sunday has moved westward. At around 8.30 am on Monday, the trough of low pressure persisted over the Maldives and Lakshadweep coast. Under the influence of this trough, Tamil Nadu will receive moderate to heavy rainfall. A torrential downpour in expected in places like the Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram and Tiruppur districts.

As far as Chennai is concerned, the skies would be generally cloudy with a few spells of rain during the night and heavy rain in some areas. According to reports from the Chennai Met Office, the total rainfall from the North Eastern Monsoon were quite generous this year, providing about 42 cm (427.5 mm) of rainfall as on November 21, and 43 cm (436.2 mm) as on Sunday.

The heavy spells on Monday helped it rise to 47 cm (469.5 mm) as against the average NEM measurement of 44 cm. If Tamil Nadu touches 52 cm before the North East monsoons comes to an end, the state would be considered as receiving “excess” rainfall.

The rainfall measurements as on Monday morning are: Mayiladuthurai - 20 cm; Karaikal -19 cm; Papanasam - 15 cm; Cuddalore, Villupuram, Cheyyur, Tharangampadi- 14 cm each; Parangipettai- 13 cm; Kodavasal-12 cm; Panruti, Maniyachi, Seerkazhi, Anaikaran Chathiram, Virudhaachalam, Jayamkondan, Thozhudhur- 11 cm each; Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Uthiramerur, Aruppukottai-10 cm each; Puducherry, KM Kovil, Arakkonam, Sethiathoppu-9 cm each.