Rain lashes parts of Tamil Nadu, more showers likely today; Schools may remain closed
Update on rain in Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains lashed parts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday evening. More showers are likely today. Schools in affected areas must remain closed.
Chennai: Parts of Tamil Nadu have been experiencing continuous rain for the past few days. Due to incessant rains, the state government yesterday declared a public holiday for all private and government schools in Chennai. Earlier, districts like Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Viruthunagar, Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Theni, Pudhukottai and Nilgiri had announced closure of schools due to adverse weather conditions. Heavy rain lashed parts of the southern state on Saturday night. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, rainfall is likely to occur in Thirukkazhukundram regions until 10 am. The weather department also predicted moderate thundershowers at isolated places over Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Villupuram and Pondicherry districts.
The IMD has also issued a rain warning for Madurantakam, Cheyyur, Thirukalukundram, Mylapore Guindy and Thiruvalluvar regions in the coming hours.
Therefore, due to poor weather conditions, schools affected by rain may remain closed. Top of Form
Rain showers in Tamil Nadu: More showers expected
RMC Deputy Director General S. Balachandran informed that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the South Andaman Sea and surrounding regions around November 26. It is expected to move west-northwestward and intensify into a depression over the southeastern bay. of Bengal on November 27, according to PTI.
Tamil Nadu Rains: School Holiday Declared
On November 22, schools in Puducherry and Karaikal districts declared a public holiday in the region due to heavy rains. According to the weather forecast department, Puducherry recorded 5 cm of rain, while Karikal recorded 9 cm of rain. The IMD shared information that light to moderate rainfall occurred at many places, with isolated very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, and Kerala & Mahe from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM IST on November 22, 2023.
Rain showers in Tamil Nadu: Orange alerts at several places
Yesterday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a thunderstorm warning for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next three hours. Earlier, the weather department predicted rain with thundershowers and lightning in several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, during the day. Amid the difficult weather conditions, a holiday has also been declared in all schools in Chennai, news agency ANI reported, quoting the district collector.
The weather department issued an orange alert for several places in the state on November 23, predicting 204.4 mm of rainfall in isolated areas. ‘Ghat areas of Tamil Nadu are likely to become isolated. Heavy to very heavy rainfall (11.5 to 204.4 mm) on November 23,” IMD wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Tamil Nadu rains: heavy flooding
Several parts of the state woke up to severe flooding due to heavy overnight rains and people were greeted by thunderstorms and lightning early in the morning. Interestingly, the southern state has been hit by incessant rain showers in recent days. Several areas witnessed mudslides and landslides due to the incessant rainfall.
According to the Chennai Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), moderate rain accompanied by thundershowers occurred at one or two places in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram districts, coastal areas of Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, and Puducherry area.
Tamil Nadu Rains: Crucial meeting to address the situation
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister K Rajan held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the situation. He said that no rain-related accidents have been reported in the state and special measures will be taken to facilitate the smooth movement of Sabarimala pilgrims.
Besides Tamil Nadu, thunderstorms with lightning are forecast in one or two areas in Kerala on November 26 and 27, extending to Puducherry and Karaikal.