Isolated rain likely in parts of north coastal districts for next 2 days

North coastal districts are likely to continue experiencing evening thundershowers this week due to wind convergence. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast isolated heavy rainfall in various parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu over the next two days.

Daily spells of rain have become a feature of August weather in Tamil Nadu. Wet weather bringing rainfall of light to moderate intensity is likely in other parts of the State, particularly the Western Ghats region, till August 23.

According to the RMC, heavy rainfall is likely with gusty winds reaching a speed of 40-50 kmph at one or two places over Chengalpattu and Villupuram districts on Tuesday. A few other places in north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal may receive moderate rainfall on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Wednesday, isolated heavy rainfall might cover more districts- Nilgiris, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Villupuram. Some places may experience light rainfall with thundershower activity throughout the week.

V.R. Durai, Head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, RMC, said a depression over the north Bay of Bengal would trigger wind convergence and sustain the wet spell, particularly over north coastal Tamil Nadu this week.

However, interior places like Tiruchi, Madurai, and Karur, may experience sweltering heat as moisture incursion would not penetrate far inland.

Though coastal places like Chennai experience relatively above normal temperatures, the onset of sea breeze in the evening helps keep temperatures in check, he said.

Scattered rainfall across various parts of the State since the start of August has kept the overall rainfall deficit within the normal range for this season. On Monday, places like Puzhal and Madhavaram in Chennai (1 cm each), Coimbatore and Kanniyakumari districts recorded light rainfall till 6 p.m.

The India Meteorological Department has also invited citizens to give their feedback online (https://mausam.imd.gov.in/survey_app/survey.php?survey=hw_gp) on the usefulness of heatwave alerts. The feedback link would be open till September 13 to register responses.