Heavy rains lashed Tamil Nadu for the third consecutive day, triggered by a low pressure area in Bay of Bengal and the intensifying North-East monsoon in the state.
Normal life was thrown out of gear in many parts of the state, even as the weatherman predicted further downpour in the next 24 hours.
“A trough of low pressure has formed over the Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, heavy rain would occur at many places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Lakshadweep and at a few places over coastal Andhra Pradesh, coastal and south interior Karnataka”, a senior Met official said here on Friday.
In addition, isolated rain or thundershower will occur over Rayalaseema and Telangana regions.
The official said the low pressure area over Southwest Bay and adjoining Sri Lankan coast will become less market in a couple of days. “Despite this, Tamil Nadu can expect heavy rainfall in the coming week too”, he added.
The persisting upper air cyclonic activity over the Bay of Bengal will also cause heavy rains over the region, he said. The sea would remain very rough along North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next 48 hours.
Rains continued since Tuesday night in Tamil Nadu after the onset of the much awaited monsoon on October 28.
Fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu are asked not to venture into the sea since onshore wind gusting up to 50 kmph is likely to blow.
The intensifying North-East monsoon has increased storage in major dams in the state since Thursday, including the Stanley reservoir in Mettur.
PWD officials said water level at Mettur stood at 61.46 feet on Friday morning, two feet more than the 60 feet seen on Thursday.
The dam has a total capacity of 120 feet.
Water inflow to the dam was 4,259 cusecs, while water released for irrigation was 1,200 cusecs, the official said.
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