Tamil Nadu’s rain alert has widened, with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast in several districts after a low-pressure area formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal near the state’s coastal region. The Chennai weather centre said Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari could receive heavy to very heavy rain, while 18 districts have been identified as having the possibility of heavy rainfall in different locations.
According to the weather centre’s report, the low-pressure area had formed by 5.30 am on October 21 over the southwest Bay of Bengal, beyond the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. It remained over the same region at 8.30 am, the report said.
Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts were forecast to receive heavy to very heavy rain. Ramanathapuram district and Karaikal were expected to receive heavy rain in isolated places, while other parts of Tamil Nadu could see moderate rainfall.
The forecast also identified Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts, along with Karaikal, as areas that could receive heavy to very heavy rain in isolated locations. Karur district and Puducherry were forecast to receive heavy rain in isolated places. Moderate rain was expected in most other districts.
The district-level spread of the forecast places both southern and coastal parts of the state under heightened rainfall risk. The warning covers areas with different urban and rural conditions, including coastal settlements, district headquarters and cities connected by roads and other public infrastructure. The report, however, does not provide specific rainfall totals, flood warnings or disruption advisories.
Chennai is expected to receive moderate rain on both October 21 and October 22, according to the weather centre. The forecast does not indicate that the capital is under the same heavy to very heavy rainfall warning issued for the identified districts.
The low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal is the weather system linked to the current forecast. The Chennai weather centre’s district-wise assessment is the latest information cited in the report, with rainfall intensity expected to vary between districts and isolated locations.
For residents and local administrations in the districts named in the warning, the immediate operational issue will be the variation in rainfall intensity across short distances. The report specifically distinguishes between heavy to very heavy rain in some locations, heavy rain in others and moderate rain across most remaining districts. Further official updates will determine whether the warning changes as the weather system develops.
