Is the Northeast Monsoon Here in Tamil Nadu?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Northeast monsoon has officially begun in Tamil Nadu.
- Orange alert issued for Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Ramanathapuram.
- Heavy rain expected across multiple districts.
- Public safety measures include school closures.
- Fishermen advised to remain ashore due to rough seas.
Chennai, Oct 16 (NationPress) The Northeast monsoon officially kicked off in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, unleashing extensive rainfall throughout various regions of the state.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has issued an orange alert for the districts of Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Ramanathapuram, cautioning residents about the potential for extremely heavy rain in specific areas.
Predictions indicate that heavy rainfall is expected in Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivaganga, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and Erode districts.
The meteorological department noted that rainfall intensity is set to increase gradually, extending towards the northern and delta regions as the system over the Bay of Bengal gains strength. Areas including Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukkottai can anticipate moderate to heavy rain.
Authorities have warned that low-lying regions may experience waterlogging and traffic disruptions if the heavy downpours persist through the night.
In Tirunelveli, numerous areas have been inundated following three consecutive days of relentless rain. The Chellapandian flyover at Washermanpet was submerged, causing significant delays in vehicular movement.
Municipal and road maintenance teams were actively engaged in removing stagnant water from critical roads and residential areas. Officials reported that ongoing rains in the Western Ghats have led to flooding in the Nambiyar River, adversely affecting surrounding farmlands and leaving several paddy fields underwater.
Due to the persistent rainfall and resultant waterlogging, District Collectors in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tenkasi have declared a one-day holiday for all schools.
The Collector of Tirunelveli, Sukumar, stated that the decision was made considering the heavy overnight rainfall that compromised student safety during commutes.
Ramanathapuram district has also been placed on high alert due to continuous rain affecting both coastal and inland areas.
The Meteorological Department has advised fishermen to remain ashore as strong winds and turbulent sea conditions are anticipated along the Tamil Nadu coastline.
Disaster management teams have been deployed to vulnerable regions, and the public is urged to stay vigilant over the coming days as intermittent heavy rainfall is expected with the active onset of the Northeast monsoon.