Chennai, Oct 15:
The northeast monsoon is set to commence over the southern peninsula today, with favourable atmospheric conditions bringing the prospect of widespread rainfall across Tamil Nadu, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in parts of the State, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph. Rainfall activity is expected to continue over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal over the coming days.
According to the IMD, conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from the remaining parts of the country and the simultaneous onset of the northeast monsoon over the southern peninsula from October 15.
On Thursday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the hilly areas of Virudhunagar district and in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Theni districts.