IMD Forecasts Heavy Rain in Western Ghats and Night Showers in Chennai

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has forecast heavy rains in the Western Ghats region of Tamil Nadu from July 1, while Chennai is expected to experience light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning during the evening or night hours starting Tuesday. The weather activity is driven by an active southwest monsoon and a trough extending from north coastal Tamil Nadu to the Comorin area.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Western Ghats region will see increased rainfall. Starting Wednesday, moderate rain at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, is expected over the districts of Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Erode, and Salem, as well as the ghat areas of Coimbatore and Tirupur.

The atmospheric trough, which runs from north coastal Tamil Nadu to the Comorin area and extends up to 0.9 km above mean sea level, is also expected to bring light to moderate rain to isolated places, with thunderstorms and lightning at one or two places, across the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal during the same period.

Despite the wet weather forecast, the Met Office noted that maximum temperatures are likely to remain above normal during the day from June 30 till July 3 over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Karaikal area.

Recent weather data for the 24 hours ending at 8:30 AM on Tuesday showed significant rainfall in parts of the state. Chinnakalar in Coimbatore recorded the highest rainfall of nine centimeters, while Vennavalkudi in Pudukkottai registered seven centimeters of rain during the same period.

Temperature variations were also stark across the state. Madurai Airport recorded the highest maximum temperature in Tamil Nadu at 40 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the hill station of Kodaikanal recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 12.9 degrees Celsius.