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The city of Chennai and its surrounding suburbs experienced a period of widespread, intermittent rain of moderate intensity on Wednesday. This weather event was attributed to a weather system situated over the Bay of Bengal, which intensified into a well-marked low-pressure area and began its movement towards the Tamil Nadu coast. The Nungambakkam region of Chennai, a key meteorological monitoring point, recorded a significant 4 centimeters of rainfall up to 7:30 PM on Wednesday. This latest rainfall pushes the cumulative rainfall total for Nungambakkam past the 100-centimeter mark since October 1st. Similarly, Meenambakkam, another important weather station, registered 3 centimeters of rainfall, bringing its total since October 1st to a near-century mark at 99 centimeters. This substantial rainfall has undoubtedly impacted various aspects of life in Chennai, from daily commutes and transportation to potential flooding and waterlogging in low-lying areas. The sustained rainfall highlights the vulnerability of urban infrastructure to intense weather patterns and underscores the importance of effective drainage systems and disaster preparedness measures.
Looking ahead, the forecast suggests a potential decrease in the city's rainfall. The expectation is that the low-pressure system will move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast from Thursday onwards. This shift is anticipated to lead to a reduction in rainfall intensity across Chennai and its suburbs. However, the city is likely to experience cooler days as a consequence of the system's movement. The northward trajectory of the low-pressure system is predicted to bring cold winds from the northern regions into Tamil Nadu, resulting in lower daytime temperatures. Specific predictions from the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) director, N. Senthamarai Kannan, indicate a possible disruption of the easterlies as the weather system shifts towards Andhra Pradesh. The rainfall is expected to gradually decrease starting from Thursday, yet the subsequent two to three days may see a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures due to the influx of cold winds.
On Thursday, Chennai and its suburbs are projected to experience moderate-intensity rainfall. Partly cloudy skies are anticipated. The temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 27 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 23-24 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast predicting light to moderate rainfall in a few places on December 19th. Further into the future, the forecast extends from December 20th to 24th, indicating that light to moderate rainfall is likely at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Karaikal area. The weather leading up to the heavy rains on Wednesday involved cloudy conditions that persisted from Tuesday. These cloudy skies were interspersed with intermittent sharp spells of rain and strong winds in the afternoon on Wednesday. The rainfall subsided by evening, resulting in varied amounts of rainfall across different areas: 4cm in Ennore Port, 3cm in YMCA Nandanam, 3cm in Anna University, 3cm in Taramani, and 2cm in NIOT Pallikaranai. Blogger Pradeep John provided further insight into the future weather patterns in an online post, suggesting that the rainfall will diminish from Thursday morning or noon as the low-pressure system moves away from the Tamil Nadu coast and that there is no significant further rainfall expected from this specific weather system. The substantial rainfall experienced across Chennai serves as a reminder of the region's vulnerability to monsoonal patterns and the critical need for continued monitoring and preparedness for such weather events.
The city’s response to the heavy rainfall and the potential implications for infrastructure, drainage, and public safety warrant attention. The prolonged period of heavy rainfall presents challenges for urban planning and preparedness. The IMD’s forecasts play a vital role in enabling the city to anticipate and manage the consequences of such weather patterns. Beyond the immediate impacts, this weather event highlights the larger issue of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which underscores the importance of long-term adaptation strategies. Effective urban planning, including improvements to drainage systems, infrastructure resilience, and public awareness campaigns, are essential to mitigate the risks associated with heavy rainfall in cities like Chennai. The role of technology, particularly in weather forecasting and early warning systems, also plays a significant role in minimizing the impact of these events. Continued collaboration between meteorological agencies, government bodies, and local communities is crucial to build resilience and ensure the safety and well-being of Chennai's residents during periods of heavy rainfall.