On Monday, various places such as Meenambakkam in Chennai received light rain till 6 p.m.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
Tamil Nadu is set to experience a wet week as back-to-back weather systems over the Bay of Bengal would end the dry spell, and revive the Northeast monsoon.
The prevailing low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka will initially trigger heavy rainfall along the coastal districts and shift activity to south Tamil Nadu by Tuesday. Another low pressure area, forming later this week, is expected to sustain intense rain across the State.
1200 cusecs per second surplus water released from Chembarambakkam reservoir on Monday
| Photo Credit:
B. VELANKANNI RAJ
During the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Kodiyakarai in Nagapattinam district received 12 cm, the heaviest rainfall recorded by the State for the day. While rainfall of light to moderate intensity will continue over the State, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has sounded yellow alert for eight southern districts, including Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, and Theni districts on Tuesday.
Heavy rainfall may be restricted to Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore districts on November 19 and 20. Rainfall activity is likely to pick up pace with the arrival of the second low pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 22.
RMC officials said while the current weather system had slim chances of intensification, the next low pressure area had chances of intensifying further by November 24. The department has issued a yellow alert for coastal districts between November 21 and 23.
The fresh spell of widespread rains is expected to boost the State’s seasonal rainfall, which is now 9% lower than its average of 29 cm till date.
On Monday, various places such as Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Ennore, Meenambakkam in Chennai, and Cuddalore received light rainfall till 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, floodgates of Chennai’s key reservoirs were opened wider on Monday in anticipation of heavy inflows. The water discharge from Red Hills reservoir gradually increased to 1,500 cusecs to maintain water level below its full level of 21.20 feet. Similarly, the department has increased water release from Chembarambakkam reservoir into the Adyar to 1,200 cusecs, and let out 2,500 cusecs from the Poondi reservoir into the Kosasthalaiyar.
Published – November 17, 2025 10:50 pm IST
