100cm rain in Chennai: Third time in 100 years – Times of India

CHENNAI: Northeast monsoon continued to batter TN, with the state registering about 75% excess rainfall for the season as on Saturday. For the third time in nearly 100 years, Chennai has recorded more than 100cm rain in November. The city’s normal rainfall for the entire NE monsoon season is 87cm.
The Meteorological department has forecast widespread showers, particularly in coastal regions till November 29. More than 11,000 people have been moved to 123 shelters across TN. National Disaster Response Force units have been deployed in Chengelpet and Kancheepuram districts.
For the second day in a row, most parts of Chennai and its suburbs were inundated. Overflowing water channels cut off GST Road and Tambaram-Sriperumbudur road making them unmotorable for most part of the day. Chief minister M K Stalin inspected several flooded roads in T Nagar at 7.30pm and urged officials to take steps to drain out water expeditiously.
More than 8,500 cusecs of water was released from city reservoirs, including Poondi. About 23,600 cusecs was let out from Mettur dam in Salem district.
Red alert to stay as Chennai records wettest November
After heavy spells of rain sent several streets under water again, the city on Saturday reached a grim milestone of recording one of the wettest Novembers as Chennai Nungambakkam weather station crossed 1,000mm only for the third time in at least the last 100 years.
The observatory, which recorded rainfall on 24 of the 27 days this month, registered 1,006mm of rain as of Saturday 8.30pm.
While a red alert is in place for Sunday, with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast for the city and the suburbs as well for north coastal districts, weathermen said a relief may be in sight from Monday when rain is likely to reduce, possibly leading to a dry spell.
Meteorologists said the city observatory recorded the highest rainfall for November in 1918 with 1088mm, followed by 1049mm in 2015. As of Saturday morning, Chennai Nungambakkam recorded 197cm annual rainfall against a normal 140cm. It includes 1199mm since October 1, an excess of 529.9mm for the season.
Meenambakkam registered 185cm annual rainfall against 138cm including 1053.1mm since October 1, an excess of 447mm rainfall.
The two stations recorded 22.9mm and 19.4mm till 8.30pm as rain intensity reduced on Saturday. However, rains picked up pace later in the evening.
For the next 48 hours, IMD has forecast thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chennai and suburbs. Officials said the heavy rains are due to the cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area and adjoining Sri Lanka.
“After Sunday, we can expect a gradual decrease in rainfall and there may be a few days of dry spell,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, Chennai.