2 more days of rain for west TN: RMC

According to RMC, the South-West monsoon, which was vigorous over Kerala and coastal Karnataka till Saturday, has now extended to Tamil Nadu’s western parts.

Saturday’s off-trough from South Karnataka coast to Kerala coast is now running from Konkan coast (Western coastline) to Kerala coast.

“After a break of a week, Chennai experienced rain (light to moderate spells) on Saturday. Southern suburbs along OMR and places around Chennai Airport possibly got the best spells as the storms moved from Southwest to Northeast,” said a city-based weather blogger.

The parched scenario in the state changed totally with many parts of the state receiving heavy rain during the weekend. Rainfall was incessant, especially in the districts, on Sunday. Dams have begun to fill up fast in most parts of the Western Ghats from the Nilgiris in the north to Tirunelveli in the south. As water flow at Courtallam falls increased, it was closed for tourists.

In Coimbatore region, Valparai received 88 mm of rainfall. Similarly Parambikulam dam received

88 mm, Chinnakallar received 53 mm. The inflow into Pillur dam in Coimbatore district had increased to 3,500 cusecs. Similarly in the Nilgiris, Devala received 110 mm of rainfall followed by Upper Bhavani with 83 mm, Avalanche with 80 m, Naduvattam with 52 mm and Gudalur with 51 mm.

Water level in the Manjalar Dam, with a total capacity of 57 feet, touched 55 feet. The level in the dam has risen by five feet in a day. Fearing more inflow, a flood warning has been issued to Batlagundu and its surrounding villages.

Bhavani river in spate

Owing to heavy rain, many water bodies such as Bhavani river and Kuniyamuthur pond have begun to overflow in the western districts.

A flood alert has been sounded to those living on the banks of Bhavani river, which is in spate, near Mettupalayam, officials said on Sunday. Nearly 12,000 cusecs of water was being released from the Pilloor Dam as its level stood at 98 feet on Sunday morning against its maximum of 100 feet, resulting in heavy flow in the Bhavani River.

People living on the banks of the river in Mettupalayam, Nellithurai and Sirumugai had been asked to evacuate to safer places.