Weather Forecast: Rain and Thunderstorms Expected in Southern Tamil Nadu Regions

Chennai, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has announced predictions of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across multiple districts in Tamil Nadu until Thursday (January 23).

Districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Dindigul, and Kanyakumari are anticipated to witness rainfall during this timeframe. The weather department indicated that light to moderate northeasterly and easterly winds persist over the area at lower tropospheric levels.

The Northeast Monsoon, which began on October 1, 2024, has been robust over Tamil Nadu, leading to extensive rainfall throughout the state as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Over the weekend and continuing into Monday, several areas in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts reported heavy rainfall. Locations such as Oothu and Naalumukku in the Manjolai Hills recorded 15.1 cm and 13.7 cm of rainfall, respectively. Other areas such as Kakkachi (12 cm), Manjolai (10.6 cm), Karuppanathi (3.6 cm), Ayikudi (3.1 cm), and Servalar (1.8 cm) also experienced notable rainfall, according to the morning report from the disaster management department.

The continuous rainfall has led to an increase in inflow to Papanasam and Manimuthar dams. Normal life has been disrupted in various parts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Alangulam, Ambasamudram, and Sankarankovil.

The administration of the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve has prohibited tourists from bathing in the Manimuthar and Thalaiyanai waterfalls due to safety issues. Likewise, the Tenkasi district administration has limited bathing at the Courtallam waterfalls due to the strong water inflow from the catchment areas of the Western Ghats.

Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing out to sea due to squally weather conditions. Wind speeds are projected to be between 35-45 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 55 km/h along the southern Tamil Nadu coast, the Comorin area, and the adjacent Gulf of Mannar over the next two days. The increase in moisture levels in the sea, along with shifting wind patterns, is sustaining the ongoing rainfall across the state.

Tamil Nadu has noted a 14% surplus in rainfall during this Northeast Monsoon season, with 447 mm recorded compared to the seasonal average of 393 mm. Chennai has logged 845 mm of rainfall, which is 16% above average, while Coimbatore has reported a significant 47% increase.

The Cyclone Fengal, which impacted Tamil Nadu from November 29 to December 1, caused extensive damage and contributed to the state’s rainfall totals. The RMC anticipates above-average rainfall throughout Tamil Nadu until January 23, with coastal districts, including Chennai, likely to experience light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms in the upcoming days.