Chennai: After the sun and clouds played a game of hide-and-seek, rains that lashed the suburbs and Chennai reservoir catchment areas spread to core localities by evening, bringing the city’s first widespread spell of northeast monsoon rain this year.Rain is likely to continue across Tamil Nadu at varying intensities over the next six days. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain (6-12cm in 24 hours) in 25 districts, including Chennai and Chengelpet, on Saturday, and an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain (12-20cm) in six districts, including Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. For Sunday, an orange alert has been issued for the Nilgiris and a yellow alert for six districts, including Tiruvallur.On Saturday, Chennai and its suburbs may experience moderate rain, with occasional heavy spells, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Maximum temperatures are likely to be 32-33°C and minimum temperatures 25-26°C.An upper-air cyclonic circulation over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, another over interior Tamil Nadu and a trough extending towards the northwest Bay of Bengal support rainfall. These systems draw moist air upwards and bring winds together. As the air rises, it cools and forms clouds, which can produce rain and thunderstorms.“In Chennai, the pattern of sunshine early in the day followed by cloudy weather and rainfall may continue for the next few days,” an IMD official said.Daytime temperatures across Tamil Nadu are likely to remain near normal as clouds and rain limit heating.By 7.30pm on Friday, Meenambakkam observatory had recorded 7.6mm, while Nungambakkam remained dry. Other stations recorded 24mm in Meenambakkam, 23mm at Ennore Port, 35.5mm in Puzhal and 12mm in West Tambaram. Anna University, YMCA Nandanam and Good Will School in Villivakkam recorded 8mm each.Maximum temperatures fell to 32.8°C in Nungambakkam, 0.1°C below normal, and 33.3°C in Meenambakkam, 0.4°C below normal.Weather blogger Pradeep John said the reservoir catchments had received heavy rain, with more spells possible over the city on Saturday.“For Chennai, there will be sudden spells here and there. Widespread heavy rainfall will come soon. For now, let’s be happy it’s raining in lake areas where it matters most,” he said.
