Chennai, Nov 7 (BPNS)

Heavy rains and thunderstorms are to continue in Chennai and almost all other districts of Tamil Nadu in the next 48 hours. The Regional centre of the Indian Meteorological Division (IMD) has said that the rains and thunderstorms are likely to continue for the next two days.

The heavy rains that lashed Chennai and other adjoining areas of the state capital were due to a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining equatorial Indian ocean extending up to 4.5 km above sea level.

IMD predicts that low pressure may form over the southeast Bay of Bengal and surrounding areas by November 9. This, according to IMD will become more pronounced and move in the direction of North Tamil Nadu coast in the next 48 hours.

Interior parts of the state will also receive heavy rainfalls and according to the IMD statement “Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over the Nilgiris, Erode, Krishnagiri and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu and also in Kerala”.

The weather department also said that heavy rain is likely to occur at Madurai, Virudhunagar, and the Cauvery delta of Tamil Nadu.

The IMD also said that from October 1 to November 7, Chennai received 26% surplus rain and that the state of Tamil Nadu as a whole got 43% more rain than the usual volume.

The phenomenon of heavy rains in a short time frame, according to IMD is called mesoscale phenomenon and this cannot be predicted easily. This phenomenon led to heavy rains in a short span of time in Chennai and adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu.