Very Heavy Rain Likely in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Till October 22
Image: PTI
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated very heavy rain over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 20 to 22, with thunderstorms and gusts of up to 60 km/h on Wednesday, October 21. In Kerala, a yellow alert for heavy rain covers 10 districts, from Thiruvananthapuram to Malappuram and including Thrissur and Palakkad, according to Onmanorama’s report of the IMD warning. The rain is linked to northeast monsoon conditions over the south and a low-pressure area over the southwest Arabian Sea.
Waterlogging and Squalls on the Coast
The IMD expects fairly widespread to widespread rain over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Wednesday and Thursday. Chennai and neighbouring districts were already under a yellow alert until October 23, The Week reported on October 19, after heavy to very heavy rain was recorded in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. For Kerala, the IMD warned of poor visibility, waterlogging, falling trees, landslides and mudslides, and lightning risk to people and cattle in the open. Squally winds of 35–45 km/h, gusting to 55 km/h, are likely along and off the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts till October 23, and fishermen have been told not to go to sea.
Northeast Monsoon Brings Half the Year’s Rain
The northeast monsoon accounts for about 48 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s annual rainfall, according to the IMD. Kerala is forecast to get fairly widespread to widespread rain from October 20 to 26. South interior Karnataka can expect isolated heavy rain from October 21 to 24, and coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam have isolated heavy rain on October 21. Earlier alerts are in Two Bay of Bengal Lows Likely This Week, Orange Alert for Chennai and Heavy Rain Alert for Tamil Nadu Delta Districts, Puducherry Today.
Another Bay of Bengal Low by October 23
The IMD expects a low-pressure area to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23. It will then move north-westwards, and its track decides how much more rain the Tamil Nadu coast gets. Kerala’s alerts run in stages: eight districts on October 22 and eight on October 23. More forecasts are under Weather Updates.
Source: India Meteorological Department. Also based on reporting by Onmanorama, The Week and The Economic Times (via inkl).
Image: PTI.
