After battling a long spell of dry, humid weather, Chennai is expected to receive rains this week.
After heavy showers lashed different parts of the State, residents were hopeful of rains hitting Chennai city too. An overcast sky last week gave them much hope, but no rain has come yet.
Officials of the Regional Meteorological Centre have now forecast copious rain on May 17 and 18 owing to an intensified depression. “A few parts of the city may witness heavy rain,” said an official at the centre.
The temperature too is expected to come down from the 36.8 degrees Celsius recorded on Sunday to 32 degrees Celsius within a few days.
According to experts, there will be light showers in the city in the next 24 hours, due to a well-marked low pressure in the southwest of Bay of Bengal adjoining Sri Lanka.
Intensity may increase
According to Skymet, a private weather forecaster, the intensity of rain is likely to increase in a few parts of the city from May 17, accompanied by high-velocity winds over Chennai and other coastal areas.
R. Pradeep John, who runs the blog Tamil Nadu Weatherman, stated that movement of massive rain bands towards southern Tamil Nadu from southwest Bay of Bengal has been witnessed. Due to this, the delta region, Gulf of Mannar and southern Tamil Nadu have been put under rain alert and Chennai might receive heavy rain, earlier than expected, in the coming weeks, including showers on the day of the Assembly election.
Officials have advised fishermen and the public against venturing into the sea during this time.
