Depression likely but rains may give Chennai a miss

Chennaiites will have to keep their fingers crossed with regard to rains as it remains unclear if the system over the southwest Bay of Bengal will yield substantial rains for the city. The system still remains a well-marked low pressure area.

The meteorological department expects the system that is currently lying close to Sri Lanka to concentrate into a depression by Wednesday and the direction it takes would determine the volume of rains the city will receive. Chennai and the southern suburbs had a good spell of overnight rain (Monday night and early Tuesday) with Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recording 5 cm and 6 cm of rainfall respectively during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The rain gauge in Anna University recorded 8 cm of rainfall.

However, areas north of Perambur did not receive much rainfall and the inflow into the key reservoirs that supply drinking water to Chennai was minimal. No rainfall was reported during the day on Tuesday.

Officials of the meteorological department said the system has potential to develop into a depression. As of now, weather models indicate that it may not take a favourable direction to bring more rains to the State.

Only if the system moves towards the northwest will Tamil Nadu get more rains. But, models indicate that it may move in a northerly or northeasterly direction, an official said.

Intermittent showers over Chennai will continue for another day.

The weather pattern has been constantly changing over the last three days and the possibility of rains cannot be ruled out for Wednesday in several areas across State, the official added.