A fresh low-pressure area has formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) says it is likely to trigger another spell of intense northeast monsoon rain from the weekend into early next week.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine

The IMD has forecast isolated very heavy rainfall of 11-20 cm over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for three days from Thursday. Kerala and Mahe face similar very heavy spells on Thursday and again on Saturday and Sunday, while Lakshadweep could see very heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, the department said.

The warning follows a punishing 24 hours in which heavy to very heavy rain, exceeding 10 cm in several places, battered parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Rayalaseema, and Kerala and Mahe, according to figures reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.

In Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation deployed more than 100 motor pumps, tractors and high-capacity motors to clear subways and major bus routes, kept relief centres ready and ran its city helpline 1913, according to reports summarised by Particle News. District administrations had declared a school holiday on Wednesday in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Ranipet because of the rain.

Meteorological centres say a second circulation is likely around October 23, which could extend the wet spell, with heavy to very heavy rain forecast over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 26. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to follow official weather updates and safety advisories.