Rain lashing in Ramanathapuram and surrounding area on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: L. Balachandar
Northeast monsoon, which has extended beyond mid-January, is set to bring another active rainspell, particularly over coastal and south Tamil Nadu till January 21.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over southern districts till Monday morning. A few delta districts may receive heavy rainfall till Sunday morning.
A trough in the easterlies that lies over southwest Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu coast in lower level of atmosphere triggered wet spell over the State. South Tamil Nadu would have an edge over other areas in terms of better rain cover on Sunday.
Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram and Tenkasi districts are likely to get heavy rainfall in one or two places on Sunday. Isolated pockets of the State may continue to experience misty/hazy early morning hours. Many areas across the State, including Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Kodaikanal and Mayiladuthurai, received light rainfall till Saturday evening.
S. Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said dry weather is likely to set in after January 22. Strong easterlies have been influencing wet weather and prolonged northeast monsoon over the State. Interior parts too have chances of moderate rainfall during this spell. “We may declare withdrawal of northeast monsoon later this month after taking into account various factors, including number of dry days,” he said.
Mr. Balachandran also said that in Tamil Nadu, the monsoon had a delayed retreat on January 22 in 2022. Tamil Nadu has experienced northeast monsoon spillover to next year in the past too. The northeast monsoon had prolonged to January during one-third of the years between 1871-2010. The monsoon retreated earlier in northern parts of the State compared to south Tamil Nadu, said Y.E.A. Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai.
Pointing out that prolonged northeast monsoon was not unusual over the State, he said the monsoon retreated as late as January 28 in 1934 for the 1933-1934 seasons. This was one of the most delayed monsoon withdrawals between 1901 and 2010. The coastal belt between Cuddalore and Pamban usually experienced prolonged monsoon activity. “The wind flow pattern would not change, and easterlies would continue till April. Rainfall would be one of the indicators to announce monsoon withdrawal,” he said.
The State has recorded a rainfall this month of 8 cm against its average of 10 cm so far since January 1. In contrast to the State’s rainfall shortfall, Tirunelveli district registered a significant surplus rainfall of 13 cm against its average of 2.2 cm.
The RMC has forecast that Chennai is likely to get light rainfall in some areas on Sunday.
Published – January 18, 2025 09:41 pm IST
