Parts of Chennai, suburbs may get light to moderate intensity rain on Friday

CHENNAI: Some parts of Chennai and its suburbs may receive light to moderate intensity rainfall on Friday, the India Meteorological Department has forecast. The skies may be partly cloudy. The maximum temperature may be around 28-29 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature may be around 24-25 degrees Celsius.
The rain intensity may reduce in the city from Friday as the activity will shift to interior and southern districts. This is because the well-marked low pressure, which was over the Gulf of Mannar on Thursday, may move towards south Tamil Nadu and weaken gradually into a low-pressure area.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain at one or two places in 13 districts on Friday. “On Friday, districts in south Tamil Nadu and closer to the ghat region may receive heavy rainfall in one or two places,” said S Balachandran, deputy director general, IMD.
The city and the suburbs received short intermittent moderate to heavy rainfall since Wednesday night, as bands of rain clouds moved over the coast at intervals. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam, which recorded 7cm and 6cm respectively till 8.30am on Thursday, added another 4cm and 9cm of rain till 7.30pm.
Balachandran said the rain in the city occurred at intervals because the system was weak, which brought rainfall as and when cloud cells formed. The city also experienced mist-like conditions whenever the rain stopped as pollution settled on the moisture in the air.
“On Thursday afternoon, the system is over the Gulf of Mannar and is moving slowly. As it moves from the sea into the land, more moisture will build up in the air, which will bring more rainfall,” he added.
After the intense spells in many districts on Thursday, the IMD upgraded the alert from yellow to orange for heavy to very heavy rain in Chennai and 16 other districts. Districts like Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin were upgraded to red alert for extremely heavy rain at one or two places.
Till 7.30pm on Thursday, the rain gauges in Poonamallee recorded 12cm, Sathyabama University 8cm, Anna University 9cm, ACS Medical College 9cm, Chembarambakkam 9cm, Kolapakkam 9cm, Taramani 7cm, YMCA Nandanam 7cm, Hindustan University 5cm and NIOT Pallikaranai 4cm.
Since Oct 1, Tamil Nadu has recorded 47cm rainfall, around 16% excess. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam have recorded 93cm and 85cm, around 16cm and 8cm excess.