City likely to get light showers from today

Long-awaited rain is expected to lash most parts of Kancheepuram, Chennai and Tiruvallur districts this weekend.

The deep depression lies centered over southeast Bay of Bengal, about 930 km east-southeast of Chennai and 1,090 km southeast of Machilipatnam. The system is likely to become a cyclonic storm by Saturday and turn into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 36 hours. It may cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday afternoon, officials of the Meteorological Department said.

There is a delay in cyclone intensification as the system has remained stationary for several hours in the same location.

Though it may move away from the Tamil Nadu coast, Chennai and neighbouring districts may get rain during the weekend, they said. N. Puviarasan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said the system is expected to lose its strength and become a cyclonic storm as it nears the coast. Chennai and its neighbouring districts may begin to have rainfall from Saturday as an impact of the system.

Trend to continue

While most parts of these districts would have moderate rainfall, there are chances of heavy rainfall in one or two places. The same weather trend may continue on Sunday. Chennai district has received only its half its share of seasonal rainfall since Oct 1.

Dry spell may return over the State from Monday except for rains in one or two places. It usually takes 6 days for the cycle of cyclone formation. This time, these systems are taking longer as they remained stationary, he said. The department has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea till Monday as squally winds with a speed of 65 km per hour may prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts from Saturday evening.