More rain to come TN's way

After a few weeks of respite, Tamil Nadu is expected to receive heavy rainfall from Tuesday under the influence of the north-east monsoon.

“A new low pressure area has formed over the south west bay off the Sri Lanka Coast on Monday morning under the influence of upper air cyclonic circulation. Due to this, heavy rain is expected to occur throughout Tamil Nadu from Tuesday evening,” a senior weather official said. The low pressure region may turn into a depression depending upon its movement.

Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as there may be strong onshore winds from the north-easterly direction, occasionally reaching speeds of 55 kmph hour, along the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast.

Dry weather prevailed across the state during the last two weeks after most districts received excess rain during this north-east monsoon, which set in last month, compared to last year.

Tirunelveli district, however, received one centimetre rain during the last 24 hours. There has been heavy inflows to various reservoirs and lakes in the state that supply drinking water.

The Stanley reservoir in Mettur, the lifeline of delta farmers, had received high inflow during the last week, taking the water level above the 100 feet against the previous year’s figure of 85 feet.

A report from the Water Resources Department said water storage in the Mullaperiyar dam was still 142 feet last week while it was 67 feet at Parambikulam against the total capacity of 72 feet. In Aliyar, water was at 95 feet as against is total capacity of 120 feet.

Other reservoirs, including Vaigai, Sholayar and Papanasam, received good inflow following heavy rain during this season’s monsoon. There is also a steady rise in water storage in the Manimuthar dam across the Tamirabarani river in Tirunelveli.