Heatwave eases as rain brings relief across TN; heavy rain alert issued
Chennai, May 18
Even as the intense summer heat continued to affect many parts of Tamil Nadu, widespread rainfall across several districts brought much-needed relief and cooler weather conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that atmospheric circulations over the southern region are influencing weather patterns and are expected to trigger more rain across the state over the next few days.
According to weather officials, one atmospheric circulation is persisting over the Kanyakumari Sea and adjoining regions, while another has formed over northeast Tamil Nadu and nearby areas. These systems led to widespread rainfall across several districts on Sunday.
Moderate rain was recorded in Hosur and the surrounding areas of Krishnagiri district, including Madagiri, Jujuvadi, Begepalli and Bagalur.
Sivaganga and nearby localities experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds for more than an hour, resulting in a noticeable drop in temperature.
In Dindigul district, Palani and Kodaikanal witnessed nearly two hours of rainfall, causing waterlogging on several roads. Periyakulam and nearby areas in the Theni district also received moderate showers lasting over half an hour.
Several parts of Pudukkottai, including the new bus stand area, Thiruvappur, Machuvadi, Thirukokarnam, Bose Nagar, Mettupatti and Malayedu, experienced thunderstorms and steady rainfall.
In Madurai district, areas such as Pandian Nagar, Vadakarai, Chengulam, Karisalpatti and Maravankulam in and around Thirumangalam reported heavy rain accompanied by thunder.
Nagapattinam district also received substantial rainfall in places, including Sikkal, Velankanni, Kilvelur, Valivalam and Thirukkuvalai, leading to water accumulation in low-lying areas.
The weather department has forecast heavy rainfall for Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai and Sivaganga districts on Monday.
Strong winds accompanied by heavy rain are also expected in Pudukkottai, Karur, Tiruchy, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
The forecast also suggests continued heavy rainfall on Tuesday in the hilly regions of Coimbatore and Tiruppur, along with the Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts. Chennai may witness moderate rain with thunderstorms in isolated areas.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is expected to set in over Kerala around May 26.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm visiting Madurai for work and the sudden downpour caught me off guard. But honestly, the cool air is so welcome after weeks of 40°C. Hope it doesn't cause too much flooding though.
Great news for farmers in Cauvery delta! This rain will definitely help the upcoming kuruvai season. But hope the government is ready for waterlogging in low-lying areas. Always a concern in TN during heavy rains. 🚜🌾
The weather patterns are getting more erratic each year. In May we usually expect peak summer, but now we're getting pre-monsoon heavy rainfall. Climate change is real.
Kodaikanal getting rain is perfect timing for tourists! But authorities should clear the waterlogging quickly. Palani roads become a mess during rain. Still, this is much better than the scorching sun. 😊
IMD's predictions have improved a lot. They gave us advance warning and we were able to harvest some crops early. But I worry about unexpected heavy spells in low-lying coastal areas. Let's hope the relief lasts without damage.
Glad to see the heatwave breaking! We were planning a trip to Nilgiris next week, hope the heavy rain alert doesn't cause landslides.
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