Widespread rain lashed Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, with forecasts suggesting heavy downpours are likely in isolated areas across the state. According to the latest weather report from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), most of Tamil Nadu will receive less than 50 mm of rainfall on Tuesday, with notable exceptions being parts of Chennai, which recorded 63.5 mm, Ramanathapuram with 149 mm, and Nagapattinam with 90 mm.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, as a low-pressure system is expected to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal between October 21 and 24.
For Tuesday, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for 11 districts in Kerala, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. Additionally, an orange alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Idukki for Wednesday. The rest of the districts will remain under yellow alert.
According to the weather agency, a low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a depression. Another low-pressure area is also likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a depression over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected infrastructure development and renovation works being carried out in the south Chennai area. These projects aim to improve waterways so that floodwater can flow easily into the sea during the monsoon season. The works include deepening and widening canals, constructing covered canals with concrete walls, installing stormwater drains, and desilting the estuarine areas where the canals meet the sea. Udhayanidhi visited the Okkiam Madhavi canal, where work is being undertaken at a cost of ₹27 crore, and also inspected desilting work in the Kannagi Nagar area, an official release confirmed.
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur in isolated places in Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal areas. Thunderstorms and lightning are also likely to occur in one or two places here.
According to TNSMART (Tamil Nadu System for Multi-hazard potential impact assessment, Alert, emergency Response planning and Tracking), Thangachimadam and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram are expected to receive 170 mm and 143 mm of rainfall, respectively, on Tuesday. Conversely, the report noted that Watrap in Virudhunagar will receive just 0.2 mm of rainfall, and Ice House in Chennai 0.3 mm.
Also read: Rain lashes Chennai as Diwali begins, Stalin reviews preparedness
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