Meteorological Department withdraws red alert for extremely heavy rains for Chennai and neighboring districts
The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal and 30 km southeast of Chennai has started crossing north Tamil Nadu coast and south Andhra Pradesh coast on Thursday evening. It was moving at a speed of 16 kmph during the last six hours.
Chennai Deputy Director General of Meteorology S. Balachandran said it would take two hours for the system to completely cross the coast around Chennai. “We cannot say the exact location for the landfall and crossing of the depression, unlike cyclones. The rain will continue till Friday morning.”
Squally wind speed reaching 40 kmph is likely to prevail over Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruvallur Coast till Thursday night. The weather system may bring heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over districts like Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Chengalpattu and Tiruvannamalai.
The Meteorological Department has withdrawn the red alert for extremely heavy rains for Chennai and neighboring districts. However, warnings of strong winds and heavy rain will continue, he said. It will start raining from Friday. Chennai Nungambakkam received 6.3 cm of rain between 8.30 am and 5 pm, while other places like Meenambakkam and Ennore also recorded 4 cm each.
Meanwhile, Tiruvallur district administration has released 9,000 cubic feet per second (cusec) of water from Poondi reservoir at 4 pm as the water body received a massive inflow of 11,000 cusecs.
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