Chennai: The Low Pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal has become well marked on Tuesday morning, even as heavy rains lashed several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and its suburbs.
The IMD in a bulletin said yesterday's Low Pressure area moved west-northwestwards and lay as a well marked low pressure area over the central part of south Bay of Bengal today.
It is likely to intensify into a Depression and continue to move west-northwestwards towards North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 2 days.
Under its influence, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will experience light to moderate rainfall over most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places today, setting the stage for the onset of Northeast Monsoon over Tamil Nadu and Southern Peninsular India.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over north Tamil Nadu is likely tomorrow.
Light to moderate rainfall over most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely over interior Tamil Nadu on October.17.
Met office sources said the Depression over westcentral Arabian Sea moved westwards towards Oman coast and weaken gradually into a well marked low pressure area. The interaction between these two systems would push moisture-laden clouds into the region, leading to intense rainfall.
As a precautionary measure, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who reviewed the monsoon preparedness after the Met office, based on various forecast models, predicted heavy rains today and extremely heavy showers, in excess of 20 cm tomorrow, has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges today in Chennai and three adjoining districts and also directed the IT firms to ask their staff to work from home.
Holidays were also declared for schools and colleges in Cuddalore, Villuppuram and other districts by the respective Collectors in view of heavy rain forecast.
Mr Stalin also reviewed the precautionary arrangements put in place in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts for which an Orange alert (upto 12 cms of rain) was issued for the day and Red alert (rains in excess of 20 cm) for tomorrow along with some northern and delta districts of the state.
Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed several parts of the state since last night.
The showers accompanied by thunder, which came in spells, was heavier at times and continued this morning.
Rains also lashed the Northern, Central, southern, western and interior districts of the State.
The Chennai City and the suburbs has been experiencing incessant rains since last night and from this morning.
The rainfall was quite heavy in some areas leading to waterlogging. Office goers were put to great hardship as those travelling in two-wheelers, found it difficult to negotiate the waterlogged roads.
As the intensity of the rains gained momentum, traffic moved at a snail's pace in several parts of the city.
Though the government and the Greater Chennai Corporation authorities said all works were carried out to prevent waterlogging, learning lessons from the 2015 floods, inundation was seen in few areas crippling normal life.
Though the Chief Minister has directed the food department authorities to ensure that prices of essential commodities were in control and uninterrupted supply of milk, there as mad rush for purchase of milk and vegetables since last night.
Several shops in the city ran out of stock in milk sachets and people returned home disappointed.
Even the prices of vegetables shot up dramatically, with tomato being sold at Rs 120 per kg and Onion at Rs 85 a kg. Since the arrivals were less due to rains, there was demand for vegetables in several parts of the city, causing inconvenience to the public.
