Chennai witnesses a transformative deluge as heavy rains drench the city, easing the rainfall deficiency. The state was issued an orange alert by IMD.
Published Nov 14, 2023 | 9:41 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 14, 2023 | 9:48 PM
Holiday has been declared for schools on 15 November in several districts across Tamil Nadu. (Flickr)
Thick, rain-bearing clouds darkened the horizon of Chennai and lashed the city with heavy rainfall. On Tuesday 14 November, between 8:30 am and 6 pm, Kathivakkam weather station in Chennai received 41 mm rainfall. Anna Nagar received 35 mm, Adyar Eco Park station received 34 mm, and Uthandi received 30 mm, according to the data shared by Tamil Nadu Weatherman.
The first biggest spell of rains for the Northeast Monsoon is here, bridging the major deficiency in rainfall in a day for most weather stations of Tamil Nadu.
“31 stations in Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall as of 8:30 am, 14 November while seven stations received very heavy rainfall. With 23 cm rainfall received from 1 October to 14 November, Tamil Nadu’s rainfall deficiency is just 14 percent now,” said Dr S Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.
Additionally, the India Meteorological Department has issued a orange alert for Tamil Nadu.
Current district & station Nowcast warnings at 1730 IST Date, 14th November. For details kindly visit:
https://t.co/AM2L3hjkRWhttps://t.co/uP8lcY7kk6If you observe any weather, kindly report it at: https://t.co/5Mp3RJYA2y@moesgoi @DDNewslive @ndmaindia @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/VxOilB27pd
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 14, 2023
In this regard, several districts, including Chennai and Tiruvallur, have declared 15 November a holiday for schools.
Tamil Nadu saw a 47 percent deficit in rainfall at the end of October. The deficiency is higher in districts such as Chennai and Cuddalore, which saw a 78 percent and 88 percent deficit, respectively, according to the data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on 29 October.
“Today’s rainfall has already turned the districts of Tamil Nadu including Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Karaikal, and Mayiladuthurai from rain-deficit to normal. Districts such as Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram are still in deficit from the lack of rainfall in the past two months,” said K Srikanth, a weather blogger.
Under the influence of yesterday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea and Southeast Bay of Bengal, a low pressure area has formed over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman areas on 14 November 2023, a press release from the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai said.
The low pressure area is expected to turn into depression and intensify into a deep depression in the next couple of days, the weather department added. In other words, heavy to heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the next two days. Extremely heavy rain is also likely in one or two places in the delta districts.
Due to squally weather with wind speed 40-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar, Comorin area, Sri Lanka coast, Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Central Bay of Bengal, fishermen are warned to not venture into the sea till 15 November.
Karaikal received 140 mm rainfall on 14 November, while Nagapattinam received 113 mm and Puducherry received 119 mm.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, State Revenue cum Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran said that an emergency control centre has been set up in Chennai. As many as 4,967 special relief camps have been set up and 121 permanent multi-purpose centres are kept ready in coastal districts to handle the monsoon, the minister said.
#NorthEastMonsoon மழையின் தாக்கத்தைத் தொடர்ந்து கண்காணித்து, மக்களைப் பாதுகாத்திடுமாறு அமைச்சர்களுக்கும் அதிகாரிகளுக்கும் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளேன்.
அவசரத் தேவைகளுக்குப் பொதுமக்கள் 1070, 1077 எண்களிலும் 9445869848 என்ற WhatsApp எண்ணிலும் தொடர்புகொள்ளவும். pic.twitter.com/mGYbNiCAFn
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) November 14, 2023
The National Disaster Response teams in Arakkonam have been kept on standby due to nonstop rains in Tamil Nadu caused by an upper atmospheric circulation over the South Andaman Sea.
Chennai Mayor R Priya, Commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation J Radhakrishnan and the Joint Commissioner (Works), Dr Sameeran inspected the pumping stations and critical stagnation points in the city.
Frontline workers of Greater Chennai Corporation are taking necessary measures to carefully remove the broken trees and make roads free for traffic. Citizens can call the civic body’s helpline number 1913 to complain about water stagnation and tree fall.
The incessant rain that battered the districts, forced the authorities to declare a holiday for schools in Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Cuddalore districts on 14 November.
