The Northeast monsoon in Tamil Nadu has intensified leading to substantial rainfall in various districts across the state on Friday and Saturday. As a precautionary measure, authorities have mandated the closure of schools in nine districts owing to the inclement weather. Several districts have been put on an 'orange alert' by the Indian Meteorological Department in anticipation of significant heavy rainfall.
According to a report on ANI, schools have been ordered to remain closed in nine districts including Chennai, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Dindugal, Sivagangai and Madurai.
Further, IMD predicted moderate rainfall for the next six days in isolated places of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Karaikkal.
On trough over the Bay of Bengal, S Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai said, "Heavy rainfall is expected over Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Theni and Dindigul districts in Tamil Nadu. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur over many places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kariakal. Few spells of intermittent rain are expected over Chennai."
On the prediction for Saturday (December 4), IMD said, "Light to moderate rain at most places with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two places is likely to occur over Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Karaikal area."
Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Ghat areas of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamilnadu, it said.
In the bulletin, IMD also said, "Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Pudukkottai, Madurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Tiruppur, Erode, Tenkasi, Theni, Dindigul districts of Tamilnadu and Karaikal."
In Chennai, IMD predicted light to moderate rainfall for the next 24 hours with temperatures between 32°C and 25-26°C. IMD said, "Sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy. Light/moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum temperature is likely to be around 32°C and minimum temperature is likely to be around 25-26°C."