Schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur will remain closed on Monday, November 2, as authorities brace for heavy to very heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Murasu, which is moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. The two district administrations announced the precautionary holiday after the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued an orange alert for both districts.
Source: IANS
Chennai District Collector S. Malathi Helen announced the holiday for Chennai, which the district administration said applies for one day only, on Monday. The orange alert indicates the possibility of rainfall ranging from 12 to 20 centimetres in 24 hours in the two districts.
Source: The Times of India (Education Times)
According to the India Meteorological Department's bulletin issued at 9.14 p.m. on Sunday, Murasu was moving west-northwestwards at 27 kmph over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal, and at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday it lay about 480 kilometres east-southeast of Chennai and 550 kilometres east-southeast of Nellore. The IMD said the system intensified into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning.
Source: IANS
The IMD has forecast that Murasu will cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur between 11.30 p.m. on Monday and 4 a.m. on Tuesday, with wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph. A yellow alert has also been issued for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris on Monday, where heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 centimetres is likely.
Source: IANS
With several northern Tamil Nadu districts expected to receive heavy rain, the State Revenue Administration and Disaster Management Department has directed collectors to remain on high alert and implement standard disaster management procedures. The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration instructed collectors to mobilise personnel, strengthen preparedness and report any untoward incident immediately to the State Emergency Operations Centre. In a communication dated November 1, the Commissionerate asked the collectors of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris to ensure their administrations are fully prepared for any emergency.
Source: Careers360
Squally winds reaching 55 to 65 kmph, gusting to 75 kmph, are forecast at isolated places in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts, besides Puducherry, on Monday, while the RMC's thunderstorm and lightning warning for isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal remains in force until November 5. Separately, Dinamalar reported that the University of Madras has postponed the examinations scheduled for November 2 after overnight rain in several parts of Chennai, and that a revised date will be announced later.