Chennai rains: IMD says downpour to continue accompanied by strong winds
With heavy rains lashing Chennai and several districts of Tamil Nadu, the Regional Meteorological Department stated that the depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 21 km/ph during the early hours on Thursday and it lays centred over southwest Bay of Bengal.
It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by Thursday evening.
“Under the influence of Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal off North Tamil Nadu Coast, surface winds will be strong with wind speed around 40-45 km/ph over Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts of Tamil Nadu,” said S Balachandran, head of Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.
The department issued a red alert for several districts, including Chennai, Kallakurichi, Salem, Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, and Ranipet. The districts are expected to experience thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, an orange alert was issued for Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode and Mayiladuthurai as thunderstorms with heavy rainfall is expected.