IMD Issues Orange Alert for Chennai, Heavy Rain Likely in Tamil Nadu Today
Chennai and seven districts brace for intense spells as system hovers over southwest Bay of Bengal
Tamil Nadu, Nov 17 : A low-pressure area lingering over the southwest Bay of Bengal near the Sri Lankan coast has begun to intensify, setting off another round of heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu. With the system inching closer to the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Chennai has issued an Orange Alert for Monday across several northern and coastal districts.
The weather system, which formed early Sunday, has shown minimal movement, allowing moisture laden clouds to continuously feed into Tamil Nadu’s coast.
Rainfall picks up across coastal districts
As of Monday morning, Thirparappu in Kanyakumari recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 6 cm, followed by Sembanarkoil in Mayiladuthurai (4 cm) and Parangipettai in Cuddalore (3 cm).
With the system remaining active, multiple coastal and interior districts are expected to receive light to moderate rain with thunderstorms throughout the day. Similar conditions, accompanied by thunder and lightning, are forecast for Tuesday, particularly across southern and northern regions.
Orange Alert for Chennai, nearby districts
The IMD has issued an Orange Alert for Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and the Karaikal region. Extremely heavy rainfall is possible across these areas today. The Union Territory of Puducherry is also likely to witness significant rain.
Residents have been advised to avoid waterlogged stretches and follow local safety advisories.
Other districts such as Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari may also receive heavy showers.
For Tuesday, the IMD has issued a separate heavy rain warning for Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Theni.
Chennai prepares for a wet day
Chennai is expected to remain cloudy with intermittent heavy rain. City corporation teams have been placed on standby to respond to waterlogging in low lying areas, and residents have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel during intense spells.
With the northeast monsoon active, the IMD continues to monitor the evolving system closely and has urged the public to rely only on official bulletins for weather updates.
