As the northeast monsoon inches closer to coastal areas, several areas in Chennai received intermittent spells of rainfall since Wednesday morning. The onset of monsoon is likely to be announced on Thursday initially in the coastal areas and rain would then spread to other parts by Friday.
On Wednesday, the weather stations in Puzhal received the maximum rainfall of 6 cm, Sholinganallur (4 cm), Nungambakkam (3 cm) and Chembarambakkam (2 cm) till 5.30 p.m. A trough of low pressure from the southwest Bay of Bengal to the westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh coast persists. Another cyclonic circulation is embedded in this trough.
S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said unlike previous years when the N-E monsoon set in simultaneously over a larger area, it may bring rains to coastal areas initially on Thursday and then move towards the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu by Friday.
Uncommon occurence
This is an uncommon phenomenon and occurs due to lack of moisture incursion to influence a simultaneous onset of the monsoon. The late onset of the monsoon may not have a relation with its performance, he said. What may begin as light to moderate rain in coastal regions on Thursday will become more widespread across the State by Friday. A few places in coastal Tamil Nadu may experience heavy rainfall on Thursday, said officials of the Meteorological Department.
The Department has forecast that Chennai would continue to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers in some areas. The day temperature will stay close to 32 degree Celsius till Friday.
