Low-Pressure System Brings Heavy Rainfall Forecast for Chennai and Nearby Districts Today

Chennai, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a warning for significant rainfall in Chennai and the neighboring districts of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Chengalpattu on Wednesday.

In addition, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts are also expected to see heavy rains on the same day.

Moderate precipitation is anticipated in areas like Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Virudhunagar, and Karaikal.

Light to moderate showers may occur across various regions of the state, particularly in North Coastal Tamil Nadu, while some areas in the rest of the state will also experience rain.

Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to receive similar rainfall, with the potential for thunderstorms and lightning in isolated locations.

The expected rains are linked to a low-pressure system developing over the southeast Bay of Bengal, influenced by an upper-air cyclonic circulation in the South Andaman Sea and surrounding regions.

This system is predicted to intensify and shift west-northwest towards the Tamil Nadu coast on December 18.

Heavy rains are anticipated in isolated areas across Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur districts, along with Karaikal.

There is a chance of extreme rainfall between Marakkanam and Sriharikota due to the interactions of westerly and easterly winds near the southern coast of Andhra Pradesh or northern coastal Tamil Nadu.

The area stretching from Pondicherry to Nellore might also experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. So far, Tamil Nadu has reported a 14% increase in rainfall during the ongoing northeast monsoon season, accumulating 447 mm against an average of 393 mm.

Chennai recorded 845 mm of rainfall, which is 16% above the average, while Coimbatore noted a 47% rise.

Fishermen are advised to refrain from going out to sea.

Those currently at sea are urged to return to the shore immediately.

This alert comes in the wake of the destruction caused by Cyclone Fengal from November 29 to December 1, which resulted in heavy rains and widespread devastation.

The cyclone led to the loss of 12 lives, inundated 2,11,139 hectares of land, and severely impacted crops, while damaging 1,649 kilometers of electric lines, 23,664 electric poles, 997 transformers, 9,576 kilometers of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks.

It is noteworthy that Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi districts recorded over 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, a quantity equivalent to an entire season's average. The disaster caused significant flooding, widespread crop damage, and affected 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals across the state.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has requested Rs 2,000 crore as interim relief from the National Disaster Response Fund.

The initial damage assessment report by the Tamil Nadu government estimates relief and reconstruction costs at Rs 2,475 crore.

The Central Government has approved Rs 944 crore as interim relief.