The state of Tamil Nadu has been lashed with another spell of heavy to very heavy rains in the past 24 hours. Rains are continuing today as well, albeit with less vigour. Coastal parts faced renewed fury after the northern and southern parts were ravaged individually, during the month of December. The northeast monsoon season from October to December received more than the normal rainfall, albeit with skewed distribution.
The state has received heavy downpours along and off the coast, with central coastal parts receiving a bigger share. Chief amounts of 24-hour rainfall include Cuddalore- 137mm, Karaikal-139mm, Parangipettai-99mm, Pondicherry- 126mm and Nagapattinam- 206mm. Capital city Chennai also received heavy showers with Meenambakkam recording 65mm and Nungambakkam measuring 45mm rainfall. Moderate rains were recorded elsewhere over many parts of the state.
A cyclonic circulation is placed over the Comorin region, fairly low in latitude in the equatorial area. Trough extends from this system to North Tamil Nadu, traversing across the Sri Lanka region. This has strengthened the northeasterly stream over the southwest Bay of Bengal and coastal Tamil Nadu. The cyclonic circulation will move east to west and get smothered, to reduce the intensity and spread of rainfall.
Northeast monsoon activity nearly withdraws from the entire of Tamil Nadu by fag end of December or at best, the start of January. Monsoon rains mostly lash Sri Lanka ( Maha Monsoon) and the Comorin region. Occasionally, a strayed trough or a wave breach through the coast of Tamil Nadu lashing the state with retreating monsoon. Isolated heavy rains are likely to continue today and significant respite is expected tomorrow. Weather conditions will improve substantially from 11th December onward and minimal activity is anticipated for the subsequent week or ten days.