A depression in the southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into a low-pressure area, causing a ‘Red Alert’ warning for three districts in Tamil Nadu due to heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that the depression has become more pronounced, located along the equator, in the eastern Indian Ocean, and adjacent to the southeastern Bay of Bengal. Moving north-west, it is expected to strengthen further and bring continuous rain to coastal Tamil Nadu over the next few days.
The districts of Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Tiruvarur have been issued a ‘Red Alert,’ indicating heavy rainfall exceeding 21 cm. Meanwhile, other districts, including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Sivagangai, are under ‘Orange Alert’ with rainfall between 12 to 20 cm expected. Other districts like Ramanathapuram, Trichy, Perambalur, Kallakurichi, and Chengalpattu are likely to receive heavy showers.
In the coming days, ‘Red Alerts’ will be issued for Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore, while ‘Orange Alerts’ will be extended to districts like Ariyalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Villupuram, along with Puducherry. In Chennai and surrounding areas, the sky will remain cloudy with moderate rainfall, and heavy rain is expected from tomorrow through the 29th.
The IMD has also issued a warning to fishermen, advising against venturing into the sea over the next five days as the low-pressure area strengthens. According to S. Balachandran, the Director of the Southern Regional Meteorological Centre, the low-pressure system is being closely monitored to determine if it will evolve into a cyclone. It is challenging to predict its exact path until the system separates from the equatorial region and makes landfall, after which its impact and movement will be more accurately forecasted.
The depression’s movement is expected to bring continuous rain to coastal areas over the next few days. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and precautionary measures have been advised.