Stalling of the deep depression from erstwhile cyclone ‘Burevi’ has swamped parts of Tamil Nadu, especially the northern districts during the 24 hours ending for a second day on Friday with huge transport of moisture on view through the day from the Gulf of Mannar where it had lain parked for more than 12 hours.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) located the stalled deep depression at about 40 km South-West of Ramanathapuram; 70 km West-South-West of Pamban; and 160 km North-East of Kanniyakumari in South Tamil Nadu with wind speeds of about 50-60 km/hr gusting to 70 km/hr. It was forecast to weaken into a depression into the night and move across Ramanathapuram towards South Kerala and further into a well-marked low-pressure area by Saturday.

Little elbowroom in the Gulf

Contrary to forecasts, ‘Burevi’ had weakened during Thursday night itself over the Gulf waters after leaving the Sri Lankan shores and running into a ‘marginal environment’ marked by sea-surface temperatures at just the threshold level of 27-28 degree Celsius and increasing shear in the heights (vertical wind shear that compromises the storm tower) compounded by land features to either side that gave it little elbow room to flourish.

Still, the Burevi remnant was able to send out suitably loaded rain bands into Tamil Nadu, especially the coastal areas as well as parts of adjoining interior in the North. The extent of the battering these areas received through Thursday was evidenced from the rainfall records furnished by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai. 

Flood, rain in Tamil Nadu

Meanwhile, rainfall occurred at most places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal; at a few places over Kerala and Mahe, South Interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema; and at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during the 24 hours ending on Friday morning.

Some of the stations receiving the heaviest rainfall in Tamil Nadu are (10 cm and above): Kollidam-36; Chidambaram-34; Lalpet-28; Parangipettai-26; Manalmedu, KM Koil and Kurinjipadi- 25 each; Thiruthuraipoondi-22; Sirkali, Kodavasal and Sethiyathope- 21 each; Rameswaram-20; Peravurani, Manjalaru, Bhuvanagiri and Mayiladuthurai-19 each; Karambakudi and Pattukottai-17 each; Madukkur and Thirukalukundram -16 each; Srimushnam and Vridhachalam-15 each; Tindivanam, Nannilam, Thanjai Papanasam, Pondicherry, Cuddalore, and Thiruvidaimaruthur-14 each; Kumbakonam, Ayyampettai, Valangaiman, Panruti and Ulundurpet- 13 each; Aduthurai, Alangudi and Pandavaiyar-12 each; Jayankondam, Tiruvarur, Budalur, Mahabalipuram and Mannargudi-11 each; Perambalur, Vallam, Maduranthagam, Thanjavur PTO, Thanjavur, Thirumanur, and Needamangalam-10 each.

More rain forecast on Saturday

During Friday also, the Chennai Centre had forecast extremely heavy rainfall over Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram and Thiruvarur districts. At the same time, it would be heavy to very heavy rainfall over Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Viluppuram, Thiruvannamalai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Vellore, Thiruvallur, Ranipettai districts, the Karaikal area and Kerala and Mahe. Heavy rainfall was forecast over Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Salem, Namakkal, Kallakurichy, Karur, Thiruchirapalli, Dindugal, Tiruppur, Nilgiri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, South Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

The state would continue to receive heavy to very rainfall for a third day on Saturday with a few places over Nilgiri, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul districts and adjoining Kerala and Mahe making gains. Heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kanchipuram and Salem (Tamil Nadu); the Lakshadweep area, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Also read: Weather: South Tamil Nadu, Kerala gear up for ‘Burevi’

 

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