North-east monsoon sets in; heavy rain pounds TN, Kerala

Heavy rains pounding Tamil Nadu since Friday afternoon paralysing normal life is expected to intensify in the next 24 hours with the formation of a low pressure in Bay of Bengal, which confirms the onset of the north-east monsoon over south India.

At least two people were reportedly killed in the last 24 hours in rain related incidents in the state.

“The South-West monsoon has completely withdrawn from the country. North-east monsoon rains has commenced over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and adjoining areas of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka from Saturday,” Deputy Director General of Meteorology S Balachandran said.

“A new trough of low pressure has formed over South West Bay of Tamil Nadu off Sri Lanka coast. Under its influence, heavy rain is likely to occur at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and at many places over interior Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours,”the official said.

The North-east monsoon, expected to begin by October 22, arrived three days prior in Tamil Nadu. Weather department sources said the monsoon has been advanced due to wind pattern from easterlies. “The monsoon will likely to continue until December,” they added.

Hoping for a normal north-east monsoon, sources said on an average about 45 cm rainfall is received during the monsoon. "In the last monsoon the rainfall deficit was 33 percent".

The latest weather bulletin said heavy to very heavy rain would occur at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rain (more than or equal to 25 cm) over Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Isolated heavy rain may occur over Lakshadweep, Coastal and South interior Karnataka in the next 24 hours, starting 8:30 am on Saturday, the weather office said.

Chennai received a record 18 cm rainfall in the last 24 hours, while Papanasam in Tirunelveli district recorded 13 cm. Revenue Administration department officials said several trees were uprooted in Chennai and in other districts even as the downpour, which affected normal life especially in the city, has brought large amount of water to important water bodies and reservoirs.

Meanwhile, two persons, including a woman, died due to electrocution in Chennai in the last 24 hours.

In Kerala, the local Met department at Thiruvananthapuram also confirmed withdrawal of south-west monsoon and the onset of the north-east monsoon. The state witnessed rains in several areas on Saturday, signalling the onset of the north-east monsoon, which was evenly spread out with the weatherman reporting very heavy rains in at least one station in the north, central and southern regions.

Kochi with 17 cm recorded the biggest rainfall till Saturday morning, while capital Thiruvananthapuram and its suburbs also received steady rains through most of Saturday. The southern and central districts have been receiving rains since Thursday.
Vynthala in Thrissur district (10 cm), Kannur and Kurudamannil in Pathanamthitta district (9 cm each), Punalur in Kollam district, Chengannur in Alappuzha district and Irikkur in Kannur district (7 cm each) are other stations that recorded heavy rains.