As the northeast monsoon finally set in over Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, Chennai will receive rains from October 20. The city experienced continuous rainfall on Thursday morning, becoming the wettest northeast monsoon day in Chennai since November 2017. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, light to moderate rain is likely to occur at many places over Tamil Nadu between Friday and Monday. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over the state.
As far as Chennai is concerned, the weather agency predicts that the sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers is likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 28 and 25 degree Celsius respectively,” it states for Friday and Saturday.
According to one report in the Times of India, the Nungambakkam weather observatory recorded 30 mm of rainfall while Meenambakkam recorded 52.6 mm in Chennai. A cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal is likely to induce a low-pressure area near south Tamil Nadu, said the newspaper.
According to a report in The Hindu, the Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam reservoirs, which went bone-dry during the summer months and caused a drought-like situation, were replenished with the rains on Thursday. Both areas recorded 3 cm of rainfall, according to the report.
Meanwhile, traffic signals in parts of the city were affected due to the rains. According to a report in the Indian Express, this resulted in traffic snarls on Thursday, following which the Greater Chennai Traffic Police regulated traffic.
City-based weather blogger Pradeep John, who runs the popular Facebook page Tamil Nadu Weatherman has predicted night and morning rains for this season. “Remember 1 to 6 am is the peak time for rains and as the clouds near the lands start converging and become intense," he wrote.