Chennai and several districts in Tamil Nadu are currently facing an extended period of heavy rainfall, causing waterlogging and disruptions to daily life. The meteorological department has issued warnings of continued wet weather in the region for the next few days.
The capital city, Chennai, has experienced an excess of 74 percent rainfall over the past four months, largely due to a cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal, located off the Tamil Nadu coast. This weather system has resulted in persistent rainfall, especially during the nighttime, leading to water stagnation in many areas.
The meteorological department has issued a yellow warning for ten districts in Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, and Kancheepuram. These districts are expected to receive heavy rainfall over the next two days. The rest of the state will likely experience light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning activity.
Residents in Chennai and its suburbs have been grappling with intermittent spells of rain throughout the southwest monsoon season. The change in westerly winds towards Tamil Nadu, combined with the cyclonic circulation, has contributed to the ongoing wet weather.
The rainfall has not only caused waterlogging but has also affected daily life due to disruptions in transportation and inconvenience caused by ongoing stormwater drain and underground maintenance works carried out by government departments.
Moreover, the weather department predicts a drop in the maximum temperature in the coming days due to the persistent rainfall. Temperatures are expected to hover around 35 to 36 degrees Celsius in weather stations like Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam for the next two days.