Will TN’s Western Ghats Experience More Rain?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Expect increased rainfall in Tamil Nadu's Western Ghats this week.
- Orange and yellow alerts have been issued for several districts.
- Heavy showers are forecasted, particularly on Thursday.
- Strong surface winds of 40-50 km/h will persist.
- Temperatures may decrease slightly in some areas.
Chennai, June 26 (NationPress) Districts located along the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu are anticipated to experience increased rainfall this week, prompting the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai to issue both orange and yellow alerts for multiple regions until Saturday.
The alerts indicate a chance of heavy rainfall in areas including The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, and Tenkasi.
As per the RMC, very heavy rain is expected on Thursday in the Nilgiris and the mountainous regions of Coimbatore, while Theni and Tenkasi may receive significant showers.
Rainfall activity is likely to continue over the Nilgiris and the hilly sections of Coimbatore on Friday and Saturday as well.
Additionally, strong surface winds, with speeds reaching 40-50 km/h, are projected to persist across Tamil Nadu until Saturday.
Officials noted that the rainfall is influenced by an upper air cyclonic circulation situated over the northwest Bay of Bengal and the neighboring coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal. This system is expected to develop into a low-pressure area by Thursday, likely amplifying the wet conditions, especially in the western regions of the state.
B. Amudha, the RMC Head (Additional In-Charge), elaborated that the convergence of robust westerly winds around the cyclonic system is drawing moisture from the Arabian Sea.
“This surge of moisture will incite widespread rainfall across Kerala and the adjacent ghat areas in Tamil Nadu,” she remarked.
Rainfall activity was evident on Wednesday, with Valparai recording 6 cm of rain by 5:30 p.m. Light showers were also noted in Salem, Kanniyakumari, and Tenkasi districts.
The remainder of the state is likely to witness a slight uptick in rainfall throughout the week, accompanied by a minor reduction in daytime temperatures in certain areas, particularly on Thursday and Friday.
In Chennai, pleasant weather prevailed on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature dropping to 33.8 degrees Celsius, approximately 3.2 degrees below normal. The city is expected to receive light to moderate showers on Thursday, with temperatures projected to stay between 36-37 degrees Celsius. Up to this point, the southwest monsoon has been advantageous for Tamil Nadu, providing a 15 percent surplus in seasonal rainfall since June 1, as per official data.