Tamil Nadu rain: schools shut in Tirunelveli, 3 other districts as IMD warns of very heavy rain

Schools in several southern districts of Tamil Nadu, including Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi, remained shut on Thursday, 22 October, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of heavy to very heavy rain across a large part of the state over the next two days.

The wet spell is being driven by a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal, close to Sri Lanka and the Tamil Nadu coast, at a time when the northeast monsoon is active over the state.

Which districts are on alert

For Thursday, the IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in 17 districts: Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai, besides Karaikal in Puducherry. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph are also likely.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has placed southern districts such as Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi under an orange alert, with rainfall of up to 20 cm possible, according to NewsBytes. The rain is expected to be heavier in the south than in the north, and the spell may continue until around 26 October.

On Friday, 23 October, rain is likely to be widespread across the state, with Kanniyakumari, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore flagged for isolated very heavy falls. Madurai, Erode, Salem and the Cauvery delta districts are also expected to receive heavy showers.

Weather officials have also said another system may form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around 23 October. Current reports do not indicate any cyclone threat to Tamil Nadu at this stage.

School holidays declared

District Collectors of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi declared a holiday for schools on Thursday in view of the forecast, according to IANS. The agency also reported that Tirupattur district, in the north of the state, closed its schools for the day on the orders of Collector Nallasivan.

In Chennai, no closure order had been issued for Thursday at the time of reporting, though the city remains under a yellow alert. Schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Ranipet were shut on Wednesday after heavy overnight rain. Parents are advised to check with their district administration each morning, as holiday orders are being issued day by day.

Chennai rain and sea warning

Chennai has been receiving heavy showers since Tuesday. MGR Nagar recorded around 15 cm of rain overnight, while several other localities received between 10 cm and 15 cm.

The meteorological centre has warned that the sea could turn rough because of the low-pressure system and asked fishermen to be cautious. Residents of low-lying and vulnerable areas have been urged to stay alert.

According to NewsBytes, Tamil Nadu’s October rainfall so far is about 12 per cent above normal.

Sources

• The Daily Jagran: Tamil Nadu Weather: IMD Predicts Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms In Several Regions; Schools Shut In 4 Districts
• IANS via Social News XYZ: TN: Forecast for heavy rain, rough sea conditions; five districts declare holiday for schools today
• The Sunday Guardian: Chennai School Holiday Today, October 22: Are Schools Closed or Open?
• News Today: Wetspell across Tamil Nadu continues, Very heavy rain likely in three Tamil Nadu districts
• NewsBytes: RMC issues orange alert for Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi until Oct 26