JOIN USTamil Nadu may have hoped for some respite from the rain following weakening of the low pressure area in Bay of Bengal, but formation of a new trough in the Arabian Sea means the state is likely to have further spells of downpour.
The state woke up to a clear and sunny Friday morning after days of heavy rains and seemed to be limping back to normalcy, but the new trough in the Arabian Sea is threatening to make the respite brief.
“The low pressure area over Gulf of Mannar and adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has become less marked. However, a new low pressure area has been formed over Lakshadweep. Under its influence, more rains to occur over southern districts of the State during the next 24 hours,” a senior Met official said on Friday.
The official added that rains would gradually abate in Tamil Nadu since the low pressure is expected to move in the westerly direction in the next two days. Noting that the north-east monsoon has been rigorous over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the official said the low pressure area could turn into a depression.
He said fishermen, especially from Kerala, have been asked not to venture into the sea since winds gusting up to 45-55 kmph blowing in the south-westerly direction would likely to make sail difficult along the Lakshadweep area.
The latest weather bulletin on Friday evening said rain or thundershowers would occur at many places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka and at a few places over coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema in the next few days. In the last 24 hours, Villupuram recorded the maximum rainfall of 14 cm, followed by Cuddalore that recorded 12 cm. The heavy rains that lashed Tamil Nadu threw normal life out of gear and caused widespread damages. It uprooted trees and destroyed power lines in coastal districts like Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Chennai, resulting in stoppage in power supply in many areas as a precaution.
Railway sources said several trains arrived late from southern districts due to heavy rains that continued till the wee hours of Friday. The monsoon season brews a series of devastating cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal. Four particularly high-intensity storms - Phailin, Helen, Lehar and Madi- hit the southern coastline in 2013 alone, leaving widespread destruction in their trail.