The Meteorological Department said here on Tuesday that the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal may soon intensify into a pressure area and there is a possibility of widespread rain across Tamil Nadu in the next few days.
In comparison, though Chennai and adjoining districts like Chengalpet had seen a drop in rainfall on Tuesday, areas like Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry received heavy to very heavy rainfall as per official inputs available here.
An official told PTI that the final figures would be made available on Wednesday.
Chennai and adjoining northern areas received mostly light to moderate rains till Tuesday night.
However, water logging continued here and in the suburbs due to heavy rains from the night of November 6 till Monday.
While the reservoir here is almost full, the excess rain water continued to flow and as the Mettur dam in Salem district has reached its full capacity of 120 feet, a directive has been issued to flush out the excess flow, an official here said. Release issued. said.
The Poondi, Puzhal, Cholavaram and Chembarambakkam lakes are the major drinking water sources for the city of Chennai and are almost full in view of the rains in the catchment areas. The Theravai Kandigai Reservoir near here has also touched its full level of 36.61 feet.
Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan said, “Steps have been taken to release the surplus water keeping in mind the flow and safety of the dams.”
In view of the advisory, the government declared a holiday for schools and colleges on November 10 and 11 in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts.
Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan in a tweet said that Governor RN Ravi has “urged the people of Tamil Nadu to remain alert and take precautionary measures in view of IMD’s prediction of heavy rains in the next few days. People in the affected areas can avoid non-essential activities and avoid untoward incidents in advance.”
In a bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department, it has been said that under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal, a low pressure area has formed in the same area on Tuesday morning.
In an update, the department said that the morning low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal now lies over central parts of south Bay of Bengal.
“It is very likely to center into a depression over southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and reach north Tamil Nadu coast by the morning of November 11, 2021.
“The morning trough is extending from cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal to Gulf of Mannar up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.”
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy and very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur over specific areas of Tamil Nadu and neighboring Union Territories of Puducherry and Karaikal on November 10.
Giving district-wise details, the department has predicted extremely heavy to very heavy to very heavy rainfall in areas falling under Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 11.
Next day, “Thundershowers with heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over the districts of Salem, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Namakkal, Erode and North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and Karaikal region. Light to moderate rain is very likely at most places over rest of Tamil Nadu districts.
,