Tamil Nadu is set for another spell of heavy rain after the Chennai Meteorological Centre warned that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal, with intense rainfall expected across several districts from today through October 25.
The weather system is developing from an atmospheric circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal Tamil Nadu. The meteorological centre said the low-pressure area could form within the next 24 hours. Its subsequent movement will determine whether the northeast monsoon strengthens further in the coming days.
An orange alert has been issued for Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts, where very heavy rain is likely along with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. The warning places coastal and southern districts at the centre of the immediate weather risk, with possible implications for roads, drainage networks, power supply and access to essential services.
Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds is also likely in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Namakkal, Karur, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts, as well as Karaikal. Other districts may receive moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning.
Chennai and its suburban areas are expected to remain cloudy, with light rain and thunderstorms possible in some locations. The warning comes after significant rainfall was recorded in parts of southern and delta Tamil Nadu. Amaravathipudur and Peraiyur in Sivaganga district, and Mangalakudi in Ramanathapuram district, each received 9 cm of rain. Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram, Thalaiyngayiru in Nagapattinam and Vadapathimangalam in Tiruvarur each recorded 8 cm.
The developing system adds pressure to urban and rural infrastructure already vulnerable to intense short-duration rainfall. Low-lying roads, undersized storm-water drains, power installations and access routes to hospitals can become critical points during thunderstorms and flooding. The impact will depend on the system’s path, rainfall concentration and the ability of local administrations to keep drainage, electricity and emergency response systems operating.
The state Health and Family Welfare Department has directed officials to prepare government hospitals and medical teams for the forecast period. Health Minister Arunraj and department secretary Thares Ahmed have asked district collectors to focus on preventing disease outbreaks and deaths while ensuring uninterrupted medical services.
The instructions include maintaining uninterrupted power at hospitals and ensuring that government and private facilities have at least seven days of emergency oxygen supplies. Medical teams, mobile medical units and ambulances are to be positioned in advance at cyclone and flood relief camps and deployed to affected areas when required.
The department has also asked officials to ensure that pregnant women, older people, children and patients requiring long-term treatment remain in safe locations. Pregnant women nearing delivery have been advised to avoid staying in flood-prone areas and to seek medical guidance in advance. The weather department’s next assessment of the low-pressure area and its movement will determine the intensity and spread of rainfall over the following days.
