Heavy rainfall alert issued to Chennai, suburbs tomorrow, Thursday


Chennai: A new low-pressure area is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rains for several districts of Tamilnadu, including Chennai and its suburbs on 17 and 18 November.

The Regional Meteorological Centre here has issued an Orange Alert, meaning rains ranging from 12 cm to 20 cm, for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and delta districts.

The low-pressure is expected to change into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal by 17 November and move near the south Andhra Pradesh coast by 18 November.

Dr S Balachandran, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said, fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till Friday, as strong wind to blow at a speed of 40 kmph to 50 kmph in the central and western parts of the Bay of Bengal, southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamilnadu.

At a time when Chennaiites are yet to completely recover from flooding caused due to recent incessant rains, the warning of another rain-filled weather system heading towards north Tamilnadu has left officials and people in Chennai and neighboring districts in worry.