Chennai, June 10 || The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued an orange alert for the Ghat areas of Coimbatore and the Nilgiris between June 13 and 15, forecasting heavy rainfall of up to 20.4 cm during the period.
The alert comes as Tamil Nadu begins to witness the revival of the southwest monsoon after a prolonged spell of intense summer heat.
An orange alert is issued when heavy rainfall is anticipated, typically exceeding 115.6 mm and up to 204.4 mm within 24 hours, and indicates a heightened risk of flooding.
After days of soaring temperatures, parts of the north interior Tamil Nadu and Chennai have received welcome relief with sudden afternoon showers. Localities such as Mylapore, Chintadripet, Anna Nagar, Adyar, and Chepauk experienced sharp rainfall from around 2.30 p.m. on Monday, leading to a dramatic drop in temperature. The day’s maximum fell from 38 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees by 4.00 p.m., aided by overcast skies and cool winds.
However, the rain also caused brief traffic disruptions, with waterlogging reported along arterial stretches, including Jawaharlal Nehru Salai.
Weather stations at Nungambakkam and Puzhal recorded 2 cm of rainfall by 5.30 p.m. on Monday. The RMC has forecast continued wet weather across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the rest of the week.