Monday, October 31: Being in the rain-shadowed region of the Western Ghats, Chennai receives only a scanty rainfall during the southwest monsoon season. But, as the northeast monsoon arrives in October, the coastal city records more rains in two months than the first nine months combined. This year, while the monsoons delayed their arrival over Tamil Nadu, one can not expect any let-up regarding the intensity of the seasonal rains.
While the northeast monsoon entered Tamil Nadu over the weekend, the state capital Chennai received the first bout of these seasonal rains on Monday. And as the rainfall arrives, it is expected to stay at least for the next five days.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Tamil Nadu is set to receive scattered to fairly widespread light or moderate rains with isolated heavy rainfall (64.5 mm-115.5 mm), thunderstorms and lightning from Monday to Friday (October 31-November 4).
Further, isolated very heavy downpours (64.5 mm-204 mm) are also forecast over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Monday and Tuesday (October 31 and November 1).
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal will remain on severe rainfall alert until tomorrow because rainfall averages ranging from 124.5 to 244.4 is possible in a day in isolated places. This alert signifies that flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic congestion, localised mudslides, and crop damage is possible.
Given these forecasts, an orange alert has been issued over the entire state for the next two days so as to urge locals to ‘be prepared’ for the inclement weather. A yellow watch has been issued for the rest of the five-day forecast period. The advisory urges the residents — particularly those living in the northern half of the state — to ‘be aware’ of the local weather situation.
Meanwhile, Chennai and its surrounding districts will experience moderate to heavy rains with thunderstorms and lightning for the next 48 hours.
The districts of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram will remain on orange watch on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday, these districts will also be joined by Vellore, Tiruppattur, Dharmapuri, Salem and Ranipettai.
The fisherfolk have been advised against venturing into the sea near the Gulf of Mannar, along-off Tamilnadu and Sri Lanka coasts and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal owing to squally weather with wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph.
Since Chennai is especially prone to get flooded during the rainy season, special teams have been deployed for emergency response. Control rooms have been set up in all 15 zones of the district. A group of over 2,000 workers are working on checking all electrical installations, including 2.3 lakh streetlights and 7,000 pillar boxes, to prevent electrocution during the rain.
City residents can call the Corporation helpline 1913 to report civic issues during the monsoon. Flood control room landline numbers for the Corporation in Ripon Buildings are 044-25619206, 044-25619207 and 044-25619208.
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Source: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vd2VhdGhlci5jb20vZW4tSU4vaW5kaWEvbW9uc29vbi9uZXdzLzIwMjItMTAtMzEtaW50ZW5zZS1ub3J0aGVhc3QtbW9uc29vbi1yYWluZmFsbC1pbi1jaGVubmFp0gEA?oc=5
