The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, has issued a yellow nowcast warning for light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across several districts of Tamil Nadu until 10:00 am on November 23 (Sunday). Districts affected include parts of Kanyakumari, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tenkasi, and Thiruvarur, along with the Karaikal area.
Weather impact and precautions
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned that rainfall may lead to waterlogging in some areas and slippery roads, potentially disrupting traffic flow. Residents and commuters are advised to exercise caution during travel. Puducherry has already experienced moderate rainfall in areas such as Beach Road, New Bus Stand, Uppalam, and surrounding rural localities due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
Broader regional alerts
Earlier alerts included both yellow and orange warnings for moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms in districts spanning Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Areas under yellow alerts cover a wide geographical belt, including Chennai, Madurai, Salem, and Kanchipuram. Winds with speeds between 41-61 km per hour were observed in southern districts, adding to the intensity of weather conditions.
Cyclone formation and extended forecast
The low-pressure area is expected to intensify into a depression over the Bay of Bengal, which could prolong rainy conditions. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms is predicted to continue across Tamil Nadu and adjoining regions through November 26, with specific districts experiencing heavier showers.
IMD issued Orange alert amid moderate to heavy rainfall
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has earlier issued orange and yellow weather alerts across several districts in Tamil Nadu for the next three hours, warning of moderate to light-moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms with lightning in isolated areas.
Districts under Orange alert
Isolated locations in Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Thoothukkudi, and Tirunelveli are under an orange alert, expecting moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning. These conditions may lead to waterlogging and slippery roads, potentially disrupting local traffic.
Yellow alert for broader regions
A broader list of districts, including Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Theni, Madurai, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Karur, Salem, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurichy, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Thiruvallur, Ranipet, and Vellore, along with Puducherry and Karaikal, have been issued a yellow alert. These areas could experience light to moderate rains causing waterlogging and slippery conditions on roads.
Wind speeds and weather conditions
The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre reported that southern districts are experiencing sustained wind speeds of 41-61 kilometers per hour during gusts, while moderate winds are observed in eastern districts under the yellow alert. In total, warnings have been issued for about 17 districts, with four being under the more severe orange alert.
