The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Chennai has issued a forecast predicting continued heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu over the next week, driven by an atmospheric cyclonic circulation and a trough of low pressure. According to weather officials, a cyclonic circulation currently persists over the southwest Bay of Bengal, extending up to 5.8 kilometers above mean sea level, with an associated trough stretching toward the northwest Bay of Bengal.
For today, the department has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, in isolated areas across the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai districts, and Karaikal. Additionally, heavy rain is expected in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruchirappalli, Erode, and Salem.
On October 20, the heavy to very heavy rainfall alert will shift to Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, and Villupuram, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal. Chennai and its neighboring districts of Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu are also expected to receive significant rainfall.
Forecasters anticipate that the wet spell will continue into October 21, with heavy to very heavy rain likely in Theni, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari. By October 22 and 23, the weather system is expected to bring thunderstorms and heavy rain to a wider region, including Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal, and Tiruchirappalli.
In Chennai, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy, with moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms likely in some parts of the city. Temperatures in the capital are forecast to range between a maximum of 32-33 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25-26 degrees Celsius.
Authorities have also issued a warning for fishermen, advising caution due to expected squally weather on October 22 and 23. Winds are projected to reach speeds of 35 to 45 kmph, occasionally gusting up to 55 kmph, along the Kerala-Karnataka coasts and the Lakshadweep area.
Over the past 24 hours, various parts of the state recorded rainfall, with Periyanaickenpalayam in Coimbatore district receiving the highest amount at 184.0 mm.
