Chennai: The heavy downpour of Thursday morning affected normal life in Chennai. The rains left commuters stranded due to disruption in public transport and waterlogging was common in several parts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Flights scheduled to Thoothukudi were also rescheduled at Chennai airport. Schools in Chennai also announced holiday for Friday and the classes were cut short on Thursday due to the intermittent rains.
Chennai recorded 33.5 mm of rainfall while sporting a maximum of 30 degree Celsius and a minimum of 24.2 C. RMC issued a cyclone warning stating that a deep depression over the Comorin area was headed west-northwestwards and intensified on Thursday morning leading to the formation of cyclonic storm Ockhi around 60 km south of Kanyakumari.
Meanwhile, the weather office said heavy rains were expected to lash North and interior Tamil Nadu for the next 48 hours. Cyclonic winds are approaching the southern parts of Tamil Nadu and the rains will continue for next two days, RMC said here on Thursday.
“A low pressure formed over southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to bring rains for next 24 hours in the city and it has turned in to a cyclone”, S Balachandran, Director, area cyclone warning center said.
He also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea stating, “Under the influence of the cyclone, gusty winds are expected to range from 65-75 kmph and then strengthen in to strong winds of 85 kmph, very likely along and off Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts. Strong winds from easterly direction with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph is expected along the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said.
