Deepavali likely to be wet in State
At snail’s pace:Traffic towards Madhya Kailash and OMR moved slowly on Monday due to the rain.R. Ravindran
Low pressure area may intensify into depression today
In what could be one of the last weather systems that could influence thunderstorm activity over the State this season, a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to bring rainfall over many parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for next two days.
The low pressure area that has formed over Central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression by Tuesday. It may even further intensify and move northwestwards and reach north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast by Thursday.
Officials said nearly 70-75% of the weather stations across the State would get rainfall over the State and Puducherry on Tuesday. The State may have scattered rainfall on Deepavali day. “We expected heavy rainfall to occur in a few places of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry till Deepavali. Rainfall activity may decrease after Wednesday as the system will move away from Tamil Nadu,” said an official.
Roads waterlogged
Rain, which has been intermittent in Chennai, for the past few days, lashed several parts of the city on Monday evening. Many roads in areas, including Santhome and Mylapore, were waterlogged after a short spell of rain. The weather stations in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 2 cm and 1 cm of rainfall till 5.30 p.m. on Monday.
The Meteorological Department expects the southwest monsoon, which is active in north interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema region, to completely withdraw in a couple of days. S.B. Thampi, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said the State would receive rainfall for two or three days under the influence of the weather system. “We expect northeasterly winds to set in after October 22 or October 23. This change in wind direction acts as a precursor and makes weather conditions favourable for the onset of the northeast monsoon,” he said. This October has been good in terms of rainfall as the State has registered 10 cm of rainfall against its normal share of 8 cm till Monday.
Chennai may continue to experience pleasant weather for two days. The Meteorological Department said a cloudy sky and light to moderate showers may occur in the city till Wednesday.