Heavy rainfall alert for Chennai and neighbouring districts on Dec 18

The Regional Meteorological Centre of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Chennai and neighboring districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday due to a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal.

The system, previously positioned over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal, shifted to the southwest Bay of Bengal on Tuesday. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above sea level and is expected to intensify further, moving west-northwest toward the Tamil Nadu coast over the next two days.

As a result, heavy to very heavy rains are predicted over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Puducherry and Kancheepuram districts on Wednesday.

The RMC has also issued a wind warning for north coastal Tamil Nadu over the next 24 hours, cautioning of strong surface winds, with speeds reaching 35-45 kmph and occasional gusts.

The intense rainfall activity is expected to persist in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram through Thursday, December 19. Light to moderate rain is also likely across many parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu and isolated areas in the rest of the state, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.