Chennai, May 14 :
The Regional Meteorological Centre on Tuesday said that the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a well-marked low pressure system, creating favourable conditions for the early onset of the southwest monsoon around May 16.
The weather office noted that rainfall occurred at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, while largely dry conditions prevailed over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal regions in the last 24 hours. Maximum temperatures also dropped by 2–3°C in some pockets of the State, with no major change elsewhere.
According to the update, the system over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining west-central Bay has strengthened, with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. A related easterly trough extending towards the Comorin area has also weakened.
Officials said conditions are becoming favourable for the advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands around May 16. If confirmed, this could mark one of the earliest monsoon onsets in recent years, well ahead of the usual arrival around May 31 or June 1.
Meteorologists are closely monitoring the system as it develops further over the coming days.