Depression likely to cross coast between Chennai and AP on May 18

Chennai: The MeT department said the low pressure area over Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is likely to bring heavy rainfall in the next two days in coastal areas of the state. Parts of Tamil Nadu continued to receive rains for the second day on May 17.

The low pressure over north Sri Lanka and adjoining areas of Gulf of Mannar and southwest Bay of Bengal had moved and intensified into depression and as of 8.30 hours today is located 125 km South East of Chennai, Regional Meteorological Centre Director S. Balachandran told mediapersons in Chennai.

During the next 24-48 hours, the depression is expected to further intensify into a deep depression. Balachandran asked fishermen not to venture out to sea.

Under its influence, heavy rainfall is likely over coasts of North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, South Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep. There would be heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours in many parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said.

Balachandran said there would be heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours in Chennai and suburbs, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram district.  

Chennai and suburbs were experiencing moderate rains from May 16 night. Nannilam in Tiruvarur district received maximum rainfall of 14 cm in the last 24 hours ended 8.30 a.m. on May 17.

Coincidentally, the last time Chennai received such heavy showers in May was during the year 2010. Just like the present year, 2010 was also the year that succeeded a strong El Nino. During that time, Chennai recorded a whopping 109.7 mm in a span of 24 hours.

The weather is expected to be harsh over the capital city of Tamil Nadu during the next two days. It is advisable for people living close to the coast, particularly in the low lying areas to move to safer areas for the likely duration of two to three days, according to skymetweather.com. During this time, seas will also remain rough and fishermen have been warned not to venture out in the sea.
 
Chennai recorded 67 mm of rainfall till 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, making it the second highest for a single day in the month of May. The well-marked low-pressure area lying over Sri Lanka and adjoining Gulf of Mannar and southwest Bay of Bengal had brought rains to many other parts of Tamil Nadu. The system is likely to move towards north Tamil Nadu coast and intensify into a depression by May 18, according to the Meteorological Department.

Skymet, a private weather forecaster, has said that the intensity of rain is likely to increase in a few parts of the city from May 17, accompanied by high-velocity winds over Chennai and other coastal areas.

R. Pradeep John, who runs the blog Tamil Nadu Weatherman, has said that movement of massive rain bands towards southern Tamil Nadu from southwest Bay of Bengal has been witnessed. Due to this, the delta region, Gulf of Mannar and southern Tamil Nadu have been put under rain alert and Chennai might receive heavy rain, earlier than expected, in the coming weeks.