Chennai: Chennai and coastal districts of Tamil Nadu are expected to receive heavy rainfall in the next couple of days with several global weather channels predicting nearly 40 cm of rains and warning people to be prepared for flash floods.
As Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and other coastal districts have been struggling to find their feet after nearly 20 cm of rainfall since Sunday, weather channels predicted that the situation would not ease till about the weekend when the rains are expected to dip.
AccuWeather, one of the credible weather channels, said frequent downpours are expected to continue each day into this weekend across southeast Andhra Pradesh and eastern and southern Tamil Nadu.
"These areas can expect total rainfall of 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) through this weekend with local amounts over 400 mm (16 inches). Some of the hardest hit locations will include Chennai, Puducherry and Madurai. There will be a heightened risk for flooding and mudslides along with daily travel disruptions", www.accuweather.com said in its forecast on Wednesday.
The warning for flooding in the city and elsewhere is significant since several areas have been inundated and waterlogging reported in low-lying areas even as they brought back the scary memories of the 2015 floods which cut off the entire metropolis from the rest of the world.
Skymetweather, another weather channel, also said moderate rains with some heavy spells will keep lashing the state on November 2 and November 3 as well.
“Thereafter, with the system moving away from Tamil Nadu coast, rains may dip further on November 4. These rains and thundershowers will be accompanied with moderate to strong winds”, www.skymetweather.com said in its forecast.
It also added that Chennai must be prepared for "waterlogging, traffic jams and flash floods at several places."
Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran, also said North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood.
“The upper air cyclonic circulation over Gulf of Munnar is positioned over Sri Lanka and Southwest Bay of Bengal now. Under the influence, in the next 24 hours many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall. Barring western districts, interiors of the State will witness moderate showers,” he said.
