Chennai: The elusive summer rain will finally bless Chennai with much-needed showers next week as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate-to-heavy rainfall in coastal Tamilnadu and Puducherry owing to a cyclonic formation in the Bay of Bengal.
The IMD has observed the formation of a low-pressure zone over the equatorial Indian Ocean. The sudden change in weather conditions will be witnessed in the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal from tomorrow, an official of the Meteorological Department, Chennai, informed.
The low-pressure area is very likely to intensify into a depression by 27 April and will move towards the Tamilnadu coast and intensify into a cyclonic storm by 29 April.
According to the private weather agency, Skymet Weather, the cyclone will move over the central and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal 29 and 30 April. Rain is expected to began in Chennai 29 April and extend till 3 or 4 May.
“The system would be moving in favourable weather conditions as sea surface temperatures would be around 29 degrees Celsius that are conducive for the formation of cyclonic storms,” it said.
The agency further informed that despite favourable factors, this storm, the very first one this season, doesnāt seem intense in nature.
“When the monsoon current is strong / aggressive / active, it tends to suppress the cyclonic storm,” it added.
Reports inform that the low-pressure area is expected to be formed by Thursday, before undergoing gradual strengthening into a powerful cyclone likely headed for Tamilnadu over the next three to four days.
On Monday, several districts, including Vellore, Dharmapuri, Salem, Nilgiris and Kanyakumari, recorded rainfall while Chennai city saw some traces.
IMD has forecast light-to-moderate rain at various places overĀ Tamilnadu until 27 April. It has also warned that the cyclone could result in very rough / high sea conditions over south Bay of Bengal and the Comorin area.