Weather watchers are buzzing as the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai announced on Sunday that a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 21st. This system is expected to bring substantial changes to the region’s weather.
Forecasters anticipate that this low-pressure area will steadily move west-northwestwards, gaining strength to become a depression over the central and adjoining west-central parts of the south Bay of Bengal within the next 48 hours. This intensification points towards a period of enhanced rainfall for north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, specifically between October 22nd and 24th.
B. Amudha, who is currently the Head (additional in-charge) of the RMC, highlighted on Sunday that the widespread rain currently blanketing Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is a result of four distinct weather systems, combined with a robust northeast monsoon. This confluence of factors is contributing to the heightened weather activity.
In light of these predictions, authorities have issued a stern warning to the fishing community. Squally weather conditions, characterized by wind speeds of 35 kmph to 45 kmph and gusts up to 55 kmph, are expected along and off the south Tamil Nadu coast, including the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin area, until Tuesday. Fishermen are strongly advised to avoid venturing into these potentially hazardous waters. Those who are currently at sea are urged to return to shore by October 21st for their safety.
Looking ahead to Monday, light to moderate rainfall is expected across numerous locations in Tamil Nadu, with isolated thunderstorms and lightning also a possibility. Several districts are on alert for heavy rainfall, including Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Chengalpattu, as well as the Puducherry and Karaikal areas. Residents in these regions should prepare for significant downpours.