Coastal districts may experience heavy rains and strong surface winds on December 3 and December 4 as the deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal is likely grow into a cyclonic storm by December 3. Though the weather system may give Chennai and north Tamil Nadu a miss, it is expected to dump heavy rains in coastal region as it travels further north on both Sunday and Monday.
Heavy rains are set to pick up pace and spread to the north coastal and interior belts by December 3.
Cyclone, which is likely to be named Michaung, is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by December 3 and reach west-central Bay of Bengal off the southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu coast, by December 4 forenoon. The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast the cyclone, is likely to cross the southern Andhra Pradesh between Nellore and Machilipatnam.
S. Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said coastal belt from Tiruvallur to Cuddalore are likely to get rainfall of up to very heavy intensity in a few places on December 3. Heavy rains are likely over nine north and delta districts.
Chennai, neighbouring districts to receive very heavy rains
On December 4, Chennai and its neighbouring districts and other places like Vellore and Tirupattur may receive very heavy rains. Kallakurichi and Villupuram districts have chances of heavy rains. Chennai has possibility of getting heavy to very heavy rains on both the days.
Strong surface winds of a speed 50-60 km per hour may blow over coastal belt between Tiruvallur and Cuddalore on December 3 and stronger winds of speed reaching 70 kmph on December 4. The wet weather has brought down rain deficit to 7% both in the State and Chennai district. Rains would gradually decrease from December 5 after the cyclone makes a landfall, he said.
Water discharge from the two city reservoirs at Red Hills and Chembarambakkam continued on December 2. Several places, including Karaikal, Nungambakkam, Ennore and Madhavaram continued to receive light to moderate rains on December 2 as well.
School holiday
Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram districts have declared holidays for schools and colleges on Monday.
The University of Madras has rescheduled theory examinations of UG/PG/professional degree courses on Monday due to heavy rains forecasted. Anna University too has also postponed distance education programme examinations scheduled on Sunday and Monday.
