Chennai heavy rain intensified on Saturday evening, with Parrys recording 175 mm by 7.30 pm and several parts of north Chennai receiving more than 100 mm in less than an hour, raising the risk of waterlogging across low-lying areas.
A private weather observer, Pradeep John, described the spell in north Chennai as cloudburst-like rainfall, with about 100 mm recorded between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm. Karaikal Nagar recorded 109.20 mm, Sathangadu 106.80 mm and Mappedu in Tiruvallur district 100.80 mm during the same hour.
Data from the Department of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management showed that Parrys recorded the highest rainfall in the city and surrounding locations at 175 mm as of 7.30 pm. Sathangadu recorded 140 mm, Karaikal Nagar received 121 mm and Tiruvottiyur recorded 114.90 mm.
The concentrated rainfall comes as the northeast monsoon period brings frequent evening and night showers to Tamil Nadu. The intensity and short duration of Saturday’s spell increase the possibility of rapid accumulation on roads and in areas where drainage capacity is limited, although the report did not provide details of specific road closures or disruption to public transport.
V R Durai, director and senior atmospheric scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, said widespread heavy rain was likely across Tamil Nadu until October 26, after which the intensity was expected to decrease. He added that a system was expected to cross the Odisha coast by the end of October and bring more rain to coastal parts of Tamil Nadu.
The forecast indicated heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, at isolated places in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari on October 20. Heavy rain was also expected in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Pudukkottai.
Durai said northeast monsoon showers generally occurred during the evening and around midnight, while low-pressure systems could bring rain during the daytime. He said the Ghat districts, adjoining areas and several southern districts were likely to receive more rainfall than the northern coastal districts.
Chennai’s maximum temperature was expected to remain around 33 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 24 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies. Maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal were forecast to remain near normal until October 21. The Regional Meteorological Centre’s wider rainfall outlook remains in force through October 26.
