Chennai receives highest rainfall in Tamil Nadu

Though the data is recorded from October 1 to November 13, officials said that 85 per cent of rainfall was received in last two weeks when the North-East Monsoon (NEM) made a grand entry.

The district is also on course to break the all-time record for the month of November. But, it would take a few more ‘extreme’ rainfall spells to do it. Way back in 1918, Chennai has received 1,088.4 mm rainfall in November which remains the maximum till date. The second highest rainfall Chennai recorded was in 2005 clocking 608.4 mm for the month of November. This monsoon, Chennai has already received close to 550 mm in just 12 days. In last 24 hours alone, the district has received 138 mm rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 26.9 mm, which 413 per cent above normal.

The regional metrological department has hinted of heavy to very heavy rains for next five days, especially on Monday and Tuesday due to a system near Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dr S.R. Ramanan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said that northern districts, including Chennai would continue to receive extreme rainfall for next few days. A trough of low a mean sea level over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighborhood with an upper cyclonic circulation is likely to form into a low pressure area on Saturday.

After Chennai, Kancheepuram has received 642.9 mm followed by Tiruvallur 602.6, Kanyakumari 557.6 and the flood-hit district Cuddalore recorded 500.4 mm rainfall.

Out of 32 districts, eight districts still record deficit rainfall. The Tamil Nadu as a whole has received 327.8 mm rainfall with an excess rainfall of 19 per cent over normal.