Chennai residents were drenched in the morning on Monday, while other southern and coastal areas also received rain; Dry weather will continue from January 20
Chennai and many adjoining areas on Monday witnessed a rainy day and normal Northeast Monsoon weather. Moderate rain was also recorded at some other places in South and Coastal region.
With the northeast monsoon yet to make a comeback in the region, the Met department has predicted that scattered showers may continue till Tuesday.
After several dry days, several places in Chennai and neighboring districts received light to moderate rain on Monday. During the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Monday, Ambattur received heavy rainfall of 6 cm in the rain gauge. Coonoor in Nilgiris district also recorded heavy rainfall of 6 cm.
Poonamallee, Korattur, Nungambakkam, ACS Medical College, Velappanachvadi and Tambaram Chennai and neighboring districts received 2 cm of rain.
Chennai witnessed mild, clear weather as the day temperature dipped several notches below the day’s average of 29.3 degrees Celsius. After the rain, the maximum temperature was 22.7 degree Celsius at around 1 pm. Light rain continued in some parts of the city during the day as well.
Nagapattinam and Markaknam (4 cms) and Nilgiris (3 cms) in Villupuram district also received light rain in Kothagiri, Thoothukudi district’s Karaikal and Tiruchendur (2 cms).
Met officials said that one or two places in Tiruvallur district may receive heavy rains on Monday. The same weather trend is likely to continue till Wednesday and dry weather will continue from January 20.
Chennai Deputy Director General of Meteorology S. Balachandran said moderate rain may continue at a few places over the north coastal region and Puducherry and light rain in the interior areas on Tuesday. The rain may reduce to one or two places over the state and Puducherry on Wednesday.
easterlies convergence
The convergence of strong easterly winds at the lower level and westerly winds at the upper level of the atmosphere started raining in the state. In addition, a cyclonic circulation over Kerala assisted in scattered rainfall, he said.
The department is yet to announce the withdrawal of northeast monsoon. “We are monitoring the weather as it is still raining in some parts. It is not unusual for the monsoon to spread till January, and last year also rains were recorded around Pongal,” he said.
The department has predicted a moderately cloudy sky with moderate rain in some areas till Wednesday. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 29 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, P. Senthamarai Kannan took over as the Director of Regional Cyclone Warning Centre, RMC, Chennai on Monday.
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