Wet weather to continue over State till January 17; yellow alert issued

While the overall rainfall in the State remains minimal so far this month, Tirunelveli district received nearly 6 cm of rainfall against its average of 1.5 cm till January 11.

The cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal would induce wet weather over different parts of the State till January 16. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has issued a yellow weather alert as heavy rainfall is set to cover more places during Pongal.

Heavy rainfall would sweep through the region from delta districts and interior parts in the north on Sunday and Monday to southern districts on January 14 and 15. A cyclonic circulation over Southwest and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal would revive fairly widespread rainfall across the State on Sunday.

According to the RMC, rainfall of moderate intensity, which will begin in the coastal belt of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Sunday, will spread to interior districts and then move to the south in the subsequent days. While delta districts, including Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai, are likely to receive heavy rainfall up to 12 cm on Sunday, interior districts in the north such as Vellore, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai will get heavy rainfall on Monday.

South Tamil Nadu may have to prepare for fairly widespread rainfall on January 14 and 15, with Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Ramanathapuram likely to receive heavy rainfall on those two days.

Chennai, too, is likely to record showers of light to moderate intensity in some areas on Sunday.

Rainfall cover and intensity may begin to reduce from January 16. However, RMC officials noted that they could announce the retreat of the Northeast monsoon only if enhanced rainfall activity over the entire State ceases.

P. Senthamarai Kannan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai, says rainfall will pick up intensity and cover various districts as the weather system progresses across the State. The RMC would also monitor the possible development of other weather systems later this month, he said.

The minimum temperature across the State is likely to increase over the week. Light rainfall continued over places such as Kodaikanal, Thoothukudi and Tiruchi till Saturday evening. While the overall rainfall in the State remains minimal so far this month, Tirunelveli district received nearly 6 cm of rainfall against its average of 1.5 cm till January 11.