Chennai: Chennaiites woke up to a bright, hot and sunny day, But by noon, the conditions went upside down. Hour-long heavy rainfall lashed the city drenching its streets. Motorists, as usual, faced the brunt of the situation as traffic came to a blistering halt at almost all key stretches.
Met department has said the conditions are favourable for the start of Northeast monsoon rains from 21 October itself. Moreover, it also added that the city will continue to get showers accompanied by thunder throughout the day today.
An official said, “Conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of Southwest monsoon from entire country by 20 October and for the commencement of Northeast monsoon rains over Tamilnadu. Also, a cyclonic circulation persists over south Andaman Sea and neighbourhood. In wake of this, rain with thunderstorm and lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Chennai and rest of Tamilnadu in the next 24 hours.”
“In the last 24 hours, Mettupalayam recorded a maximum rainfall of 8 cm followed by Jayamkondam which recorded 7 cm. Arantangi, Eraniel, Tondi, Nagercoil, Chinnakalar, recorded 5 cm, Valparai, Coonoor, G Bazar, Colachel, Sankarapuram, Ayikudi, 4 cm each, Chidambaram, Arimalam, Madukkur, Thuckalay, Sethiathope, Mannargudi, Sathanur Dam, Devala, Valparai, Kancheepuram, Pudukottai, Kodaikanal, Thenkasi, Perambalur, and Vedaranyam, 3 cm each. In addition, many other places witnessed good rainfall,” the official said.
The city which started out at a maximum temperature of 33.1 degrees celsius became cooler by 3 degrees at 30.5 degrees celsius by afternoon following the rains.