The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre (IMD) said the northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu is likely to be normal this year, with rainfall expected around the seasonal average. The centre also indicated a regional variation, with northern districts likely to receive below-normal rain, southern districts above-normal rain, and coastal districts close to normal.
Speaking to reporters, RMC Chennai Director Durai said moderate rain was recorded in many places over the last 24 hours, while a few locations saw heavy spells. Thogamalai in Karur received 11 cm of rain, while Nagapattinam and Dharmapuri recorded 8 cm each.
For the next two days, heavy rain with thunder and lightning may occur at one or two places in the Western Ghats districts, including Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Theni. Similar conditions are also possible in Erode, Tiruppur, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Tiruvannamalai.
Chennai and its suburbs may see moderate rain over the next two days, the IMD said.
The director noted that the southwest monsoon this year was 21% below normal in Tamil Nadu. He added that, due to a “super El Niño”, the chance of large-scale flooding is currently low, though very heavy rain events similar to last year’s cloudburst-like episodes could still occur.
