Storm ‘Murasu’ to bring very heavy rain over north Tamil Nadu

The cyclonic storm “Murasu” over Southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with speed of 25 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday over the same region, at about 420 km east-southeast of Chennai, 490 km east-southeast of Nellore, 500 km southeast of Machilipatnam, 510 east-southeast of Kavali, 530 km southeast of Ongole and 560 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm around Monday (November 2) morning. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds of 100 to 120 kmph between Nellore and Narsapur between Monday midnight and the early hours of Tuesday (11.30 p.m. and 4 a.m.). 

As a result of the storm, during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday (November 2), the Regional Meteorological Centre here has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning likely over Tiruvallur district. At the same time, isolated places over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and Nilgiris districts are likely to get heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. 

Isolated places in districts including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Erode, Tirupur, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchi, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari districts and rest of the Western Ghat districts and Puducherry are likely to get moderate rainfall. Light rain is likely to occur at isolated places over the rest of the State and Karaikal. 

For the 24-hour period from 8.30 a.m. on Monday, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. The rains could be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning with gusty wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph at one or two places. 

Chennai District Collector S. Malathi Helen announced that Monday will be a holiday for schools alone on account of heavy rains.

Heavy rain is likely at isolated places with thunderstorm and lightning over Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and Nilgiris districts. Light to Moderate rain has been forecast at a few places with thunderstorms and lightning over rest of north Tamil Nadu and Western Ghat districts and Puducherry and Karaikal area. 

For Tuesday (November 3), heavy rain at isolated places with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur over Nilgiris district. Moderate rain is likely to occur over isolated places in north Tamil Nadu and Western Ghat districts, Puducherry and Karaikal area. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur at a few places over the rest of the State.