Nip in the air over plains with sub-zero temperatures in the hills

The depression in the Bay of Bengal, which had moved westward in the past 24 hours, is presently marked over southwestern Bay at a Latitude of 9.5ºNorth and Longitude of 83.5ºE. The system, lying 500 km southeast of Chennai and 450 km east-southeast of Nagapattinam, is expected to make a landfall in the wee hours or early morning tomorrow.

Coastal areas of north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh is in for a few days of wet spell. Isolated heavy to very heavy rain could lash a majority of places in this region, particularly Tamil Nadu. Later on, the system will move to the interiors inducing good amounts of showers over entire Peninsular India, including South interior Karnataka, Kerala and Rayalseema. Winds in the range of 50-55 kmph along the coast of Tamil Nadu and at times gusting to 65 kmph, could affect normal life with continuous rain.

Sub-zero temperatures will continue over many parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh with Leh recording -11 degrees Celsius. A feeble Western Disturbance, presently over Afghanistan, is moving northeastwards and will bring rain and snow in the higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir in the next 24 hours.

The lower hills of Musoorie, Nainital, Shimla and Dharamsalawill remain pleasant with maximums between 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. Temperatures are below normal by 2 to 3 degrees over an extensive area covering North and Northwestern plains and some parts of Northeastern and Central India.