Heavy rain with gusty winds forecast for many TN districts

Chennai, Aug 6 (AHN) Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds is likely to lash parts of four Tamil Nadu districts on Thursday and Friday, while moderate showers are expected across several other districts over the next few days, the Meteorological Department has said.

According to the forecast, heavy rainfall is likely over Coimbatore, Theni and Tirunelveli districts and the hilly areas of the Nilgiris on Thursday and Friday. Weather officials attributed the wet spell to a weak atmospheric circulation prevailing in the lower tropospheric levels over the coastal areas of northern Tamil Nadu.

The system is expected to bring increased rainfall activity, particularly over the Western Ghats and adjoining districts.

The department has cautioned that the four districts could experience spells of heavy rain along with strong winds, especially in the hilly and ghat regions. Residents and travellers in vulnerable areas have been advised to remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions.

The rainfall activity is expected to continue into the weekend. Theni, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall at isolated places on Saturday.

Meanwhile, moderate rainfall is expected to continue until Sunday across several districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet and Vellore. Similar weather conditions are also likely over Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli, Karur and Madurai districts during the period.

Other parts of Tamil Nadu could receive light rainfall at isolated places as moisture-laden winds and local atmospheric conditions remain favourable for scattered showers.

In Chennai, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy, with moderate rainfall likely in some parts of the city during the evening or night on Thursday. The maximum temperature could reach around 36 degrees Celsius. The showers could provide some temporary relief from the warm and humid conditions prevailing in the city, although daytime temperatures are expected to remain relatively high.

The Meteorological Department said maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are expected to remain close to normal levels for this time of the year. Rainfall activity over the state is expected to remain concentrated mainly along the Western Ghats and parts of northern and interior Tamil Nadu over the next few days, with isolated showers elsewhere.