Severe Rainfall Expected in Four Tamil Nadu Districts on January 30
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Synopsis
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has predicted significant rainfall in four districts of Tamil Nadu on January 30, influenced by current weather patterns. The ongoing Northeast Monsoon has resulted in excess rainfall this season, causing extensive damage due to recent cyclonic activity.
Key Takeaways
- Heavy rainfall expected in four Tamil Nadu districts.
- Northeast Monsoon conditions are changing.
- Excess rainfall recorded this season.
- Cyclone Fengal caused severe damage.
- Government allocated interim relief funds.
Chennai, Jan 27 (NationPress) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has issued a forecast indicating that four districts in Tamil Nadu will face heavy rainfall on Thursday, January 30.
The RMC reports that Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram districts are likely to encounter significant rain due to the effects of light to moderate easterly and northeasterly winds that are currently influencing the area at lower tropospheric levels.
The meteorological agency also highlighted that conditions are becoming suitable for the conclusion of the Northeast Monsoon across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal districts.
In Chennai and its surrounding areas, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy in the upcoming days.
Tamil Nadu has experienced a rainfall surplus of 14 percent during the ongoing Northeast Monsoon season, with a total of 447 mm recorded compared to the average of 393 mm.
Chennai itself recorded 845 mm of rainfall, marking a 16 percent increase above average, while Coimbatore saw an impressive 47 percent rise in its seasonal average.
The Cyclone Fengal, which affected Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between November and December, resulted in heavy to very heavy rainfall due to a low-pressure system in the southern Bay of Bengal.
This cyclone caused widespread devastation, leading to the loss of 12 lives and inundating 211,139 hectares of farmland, severely impacting farmers.
Infrastructure damages included 1,649 km of electrical lines, 23,664 electric poles, 997 transformers, 9,576 km of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks.
Many homes and huts were also affected, with Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi districts recording over 50 cm of rain in a single day—equivalent to an entire season’s average. This resulted in severe flooding and extensive crop loss.
The Tamil Nadu government reported that 6.9 million families and 15 million individuals were impacted by the cyclone.
In response, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for Rs 2,000 crore as immediate relief from the National Disaster Response Fund.
The initial damage assessment by the state government estimated that Rs 2,475 crore is necessary for relief and reconstruction.
The central government has approved Rs 944 crore as interim relief for the affected areas.
