Beleaguered Chennai hit by rains; fresh spell expected, says Met department
Chennai: Intermittent rains on Friday battered the already worst-hit areas in Chennai. Highly residential localities like Kodambakkam, T. Nagar, Adyar, Kotturpuram, Nungambbakkam, Mylapore and suburban Tamabaram received moderate to heavy rainfall that hampered the relief operation to some extent, particularly in the later parts of Friday.
However, the Met Department has withdrawn the heavy rainfall warning to Chennai, but cautioned that light showers could occur for another 24 hours. However, heavy to very heavy rainfall warning is issued to Villipuram, Cuddalore and Cauvery delta districts of the state.
Fresh spell of rain expected
The Met department has predicted heavy rains in Karaikal and Puducherry. The officials said isolated heavy rain may also occur over Kanyakumai and Tirunelveli districts of south Tamil Nadu.
The Met office said low pressure area over Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka off Tamil Nadu coast with associated upper air cyclonic circulation extending upto 4.5 km above mean sea level persists, but the system was moving away reducing the possibility of rainfall considerably.
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On Friday, Nungambakkam recorded 29 mm and Meenambakkam received 27 mm of rainfall. With situation as delicate as it now, any quantum of rainfall would only severely hamper the relief and rescue.
When television stations began putting out national Met office pronouncements referring to heavy rains in Chennai in the past tense, a silver lining may have been spotted. But the fear that the forecasts were being tempered down to give reassurance to people already savaged by extraordinary rain became true as the skies opened up in the afternoon, evening and night in many areas of the city.
A neutral forecasting station had to be accessed to know the truth, which was not very rosy considering accuweaher.com the US based weather portal, is warning of more heavy spells of rain to come in the next few days, right up to next Wednesday.
The Accuweather city forecast is for heavy showers on Saturday and a few showers on Sunday and heavy thunderstorm activity from Monday through Wednesday with accompanying heavy rainfall. Not only is the site reliable, but it also does not doctor the forecasts as the national and regional Met departments may tend to, being government organisations.
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