Tamil Nadu rain alert: IMD warns 16 districts as storms batter state
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu is bracing for two more days of intense rain, with the IMD red-flagging 16 districts even as Tuesday's storms flooded a government hospital in Namakkal, uprooted trees in Tirupattur and injured over ten bus passengers in Tiruvannamalai. The southwest monsoon is set to hit Kerala on Thursday, hinting at a wetter week ahead.
Key Takeaways
The IMD has issued a heavy rain alert for 16 Tamil Nadu districts for Wednesday and Thursday.
Districts on alert include Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Kanniyakumari .
A tamarind tree fell on a mini-bus in Melnagar village , injuring more than ten passengers .
Rainwater flooded a government hospital in Rasipuram, Namakkal ; hailstorms hit Ambur and nearby areas in Tirupattur.
The southwest monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala on Thursday, per the IMD.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 3 June issued a heavy rain alert for 16 districts of Tamil Nadu for Wednesday and Thursday, as intense showers across the state triggered flooding, power outages, uprooted trees and injuries to commuters. The agency also flagged that conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to set in over Kerala on Thursday.
Districts on alert
Heavy rainfall is forecast over the next two days in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai, according to the IMD bulletin. For Chennai, the weather office has forecast partly cloudy skies with the possibility of moderate rain and thunderstorms in pockets of the city.
Hospitals, markets flooded
In Namakkal district, rainwater entered the government hospital near the old bus stand in Rasipuram, forcing patients and attendants to wade through knee-deep water. Waterlogging around the new bus stand market area disrupted local trade through Tuesday.
Hailstorms and uprooted trees
In Tirupattur district, hailstorms were reported from Ambur, Alangkuppam and Periyankuppam, with strong winds uprooting trees at several spots. A Poovarasu tree fell on a house near the Nagalamman Temple in Vinnamangalam, while a large banyan tree collapsed onto the Dandu Mariamman Temple.
Tiruvannamalai district saw more than three hours of heavy rain in Arani, Savur, Kunnathur and Kamakkur, knocking out power supply in several pockets. In Melnagar village, a tamarind tree fell on a moving mini-bus, reportedly injuring more than ten passengers, including the driver.
Power supply hit across south Tamil Nadu
Heavy showers also lashed Tiruppur, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Sivaganga and Dindigul, inundating roads and snapping power supply in parts of Madurai including Mattuthavani, Periyar Bus Stand, Simmakkal, Melur, Thirumangalam and the airport area. In the hill station of Kodaikanal, dense fog rolled in suddenly during the evening alongside light rain, with visibility dropping sharply on major hill roads and creating near-nighttime conditions during the day.
What's next
The IMD has advised residents in the alerted districts to brace for further squalls and localised flooding through Thursday. With the southwest monsoon poised to arrive over Kerala, downstream weather activity over Tamil Nadu is expected to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
The question is whether district administrations have moved beyond alerts to actual mitigation. History suggests the warning systems are catching up faster than the response systems.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Tamil Nadu districts are under the IMD heavy rain alert?
The IMD has placed 16 districts under a heavy rain alert for Wednesday and Thursday — Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai. Residents have been advised to prepare for squalls and localised flooding.
When is the southwest monsoon expected to hit Kerala?
The IMD has said conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to set in over Kerala on Thursday. The onset typically triggers a wider spell of rain across south India in the days that follow.
What damage has the rain caused in Tamil Nadu so far?
Tuesday's downpour flooded a government hospital in Rasipuram, Namakkal, uprooted trees in Tirupattur district and disrupted power across parts of Madurai. In Tiruvannamalai's Melnagar village, a tamarind tree fell on a moving mini-bus, reportedly injuring more than ten passengers including the driver.
What is the weather forecast for Chennai?
The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies for Chennai with the possibility of moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in some parts of the city. Chennai is not in the heavy rain alert list for the next two days.
Were any hill stations affected by the weather?
Yes. In Kodaikanal, dense fog descended suddenly during the evening alongside light rain, sharply reducing visibility on major hill roads and creating near-nighttime conditions during daytime hours.
