Bay System May Intensify Into Cyclone Next Week
Heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds is forecast at isolated places in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts on Tuesday.
CHENNAI: The northeast monsoon is gaining momentum over Tamil Nadu with widespread rainfall expected across Chennai in the coming days.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, forecast that a fresh weather system is likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal that could intensify into a cyclonic storm next week.
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have received 25.4 cm of rainfall between October 1 and November 9, against the seasonal normal of 24.3 cm, registering a 4 per cent surplus, according to rainfall statistics.
Heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds is forecast at isolated places in Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi districts on Tuesday.
Moderate rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds is also likely in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, besides Karaikal.
The rainfall activity is being influenced by an atmospheric circulation over the Comorin Sea and the adjoining areas.
On Wednesday, moderate rain is likely at isolated places in several coastal and southern districts, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. Other parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may receive light rain.
The weather department said rainfall activity could continue across the state until November 15.
Weather officials are closely watching a fresh low pressure area expected to form over the south-eastern Bay of Bengal around November 12.
The system is expected to gradually intensify and move towards adjoining Sri Lanka by November 15. Favourable atmospheric conditions could allow it to strengthen further, potentially developing into a cyclonic storm, officials said.
Tamil Nadu could receive another spell of substantial rainfall between November 15 and 20 as the system approaches the coast. If it intensifies into a cyclone, the system could cross the Tamil Nadu coast around November 19 or subsequently, according to the current assessment.
However, officials cautioned that the possibility of cyclone formation, its intensity and the eventual track and landfall location remain uncertain.
The system’s evolution over the next few days will determine whether it strengthens into a cyclone and how close it comes to the Tamil Nadu coast.