Chennai: Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Kerala are likely to witness a wet and windy start to March.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said there is a cyclonic circulation prevailing over the Strait of Malacca and adjoining south Andaman Sea, which will intensify over the region in the coming days.
A forecast by the IMD said, ‘This system will move west-northwestwards and under its influence, a low pressure system is likely to form during the next 48 hours. This low pressure system will cause fairly widespread light to moderate intensity rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning with gusting winds over Andaman and Nicobar islands, south Tamilnadu, Kerala and Mahe during 2 and 3 March.’
The IMD has predicted isolated very heavy rain spells (115 to 204mm in 24 hours) over Tamilnadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on 3 March. With wind speeds likely to go upto 60km/hour along southeast Bay of Bengal till 3 March, the fishmen have been warned against venturing into this part of the sea. The low pressure system is expected to move over Sri Lanka later in the week.
The department said that Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Cuddalore, Karaikkal, and Union Territory of Puducherry might receive isolated rains. This rainfall, according to the meteorological department is due to the easterly wind convergence.