Heavy rainfall is set to drench 26 districts across Tamil Nadu as a regional monsoon intensification brings thunderstorms and high winds, while meteorological officials monitor a developing low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal that could potentially evolve into a cyclone named Arnab.
Chennai and its surrounding suburbs experienced continuous overnight and early morning rainfall, leading to localized water accumulation in low-lying areas and transport slowdowns.
The northeast monsoon has intensified across Tamil Nadu, bringing widespread downpours, lightning, and gusty winds ranging between 40 and 50 kilometers per hour. The regional meteorological center has issued warnings advising residents to remain cautious near water stagnation points and lightning hazards.
Twenty-Six Districts Face Heavy Rain Alerts and Yellow Warnings
The advisory blankets 26 administrative districts. These include Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Trichy, Theni, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, and Tirunelveli.
They also include Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruppur, Perambalur, Chennai, and Tiruvallur, alongside the Union Territory of Puducherry and Karaikal. According to weather updates from the BBC and Vikatan, a yellow warning has been put in place for Chennai and neighboring suburbs as heavy downpours continue.
Southern and delta sectors experienced sharp weather shifts, with Madurai recording evening thunderstorms across locations like Mattuthavani, Palanganatham, Kalavasal, Periyar bus stand, and Simmakkal, alongside suburban areas near the Perungudi airport as reported by Samayam Tamil.
Low Pressure Area May Become Cyclone Arnab
A new low-pressure area is forming over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal, carrying the potential to intensify into a storm.
Meteorological officials note that the current spells stem from an upper-air circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and coastal Tamil Nadu as detailed by Dinakaran.
The India Meteorological Department holds the mandate for naming tropical storms originating in the northern Indian Ocean. Officials explained via Thanthitv that if the upcoming disturbance develops into a cyclone, the name of the next storm is Arnab. Following that system, the subsequent storm will take the Tamil name Murasu, which was proposed by India.
Authorities Warn Fishermen as Squally Weather Hits Coasts
Squally weather with wind speeds touching 35 to 45 km/h is expected to affect coastal Tamil Nadu, the Gulf of Mannar, and the Comorin area, as well as parts of the Andaman Sea and the central and southwest Bay of Bengal.
Occasional gusts up to 55 km/h will also hit these zones. Vikatan reported that authorities have instructed fishermen to closely follow weather bulletins before venturing out to sea.
The BBC noted that residents facing water accumulation or other weather-related emergencies can log complaints through the Greater Chennai Corporation hotline at 1913.