As low pressure system intensifies, Chennai braces for more rain this week

CHENNAI: After a lull, the southern suburbs should get ready for heavy rain this week as the low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal has developed and will turn into a depression in 36 hours. It will intensify further and edge closer to the Tamil Nadu coast by Wednesday. It is expected to trigger heavy rain of more than 10cm in the southern suburbs of the city and also in the southern districts of the state.
An IMD statement said, "Yesterday’s low pressure area over south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of southeast Bay of Bengal and equatorial Indian Ocean has developed into a well-marked low pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of south Andaman Sea and equatorial Indian Ocean.It is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 36 hours and likely to intensify further."
The huge system, currently spread over the sea between Andamans and Sri Lanka, will cause heavy rain in Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts from Tuesday onwards. The rain will become extremely heavy and very heavy in the southern and western districts, the next day.
IMD has forecast extremely heavy rain in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts, while isolated places at Theni, Madurai, Sivagangai and Pudukkottai are expected to get heavy to very heavy rain. Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur, Karaikal, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram will also be drenched.
A met official said that the system may not impact the city like Cyclone Nivar, baring a possibility of heavy rain in the southern suburbs.
Though there was only a 'trace' of rain at Nungambakkam on Saturday night, many areas of the city received good rain towards late evening and night on Sunday. Many areas in the coast, between Chennai and Pudicherry and some parts till Nagapattinam, received rain on Sunday night because of the impact of the low pressure system.
However, the day was bright with the temperature touching 30°C in Chennai.
Another round of rain in the southern suburbs will recharge the groundwater in the city. The heavy rain caused by Cyclone Nivar had converted a 11% rainfall deficit to 31% surplus. The city has got 808.2mm rain since October 1 as against the 615.5mm expected till now during the northeast monsoon season.