Heavy Rain Alert Triggers Five-Day Fishing Halt Along Tamil Nadu Coast

Chennai, October 25: A five-day halt on fishing activities has been enforced along the Tamil Nadu coast from October 25 as a precaution against a possible cyclonic storm developing in the Bay of Bengal. The restriction will continue until October 29.

The state is bracing for heavy rain and strong winds over the coming days. Forecasters from the Chennai Meteorological Department say rain will be widespread at first, before conditions begin to settle across most parts of Tamil Nadu toward the end of the period.

As per the weather bulletin, a low-pressure zone that was positioned over the Comorin area and nearby regions of southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala on October 22 had moved to the southeast Arabian Sea and the adjoining Lakshadweep area by 8:30 am on October 23. The bulletin further pointed to an atmospheric circulation roughly 1.5 kilometres above sea level, progressing from these waters through Kerala towards the northern Tamil Nadu coastline.

During the initial phase, isolated areas of the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Tiruchirappalli districts may receive heavy rain. Thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour are also likely. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, along with several other inland and coastal districts, could experience rain, storms and gusty winds. Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to see comparable weather.

On October 26, a few spots in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai may get heavy to very heavy rain. Thunderstorms and winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour are also forecast.

Heavy rainfall is also anticipated at some places in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai. Puducherry and Karaikal may face similar weather.

Moderate rain is possible at a few locations in other parts of Tamil Nadu, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. Rainfall is expected to reduce on October 27, with light to moderate showers at isolated places in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram. Light rain is likely at scattered spots across the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

On October 28 and 29, light to moderate rain may occur at a few places in the southern coastal districts of Tamil Nadu. The remaining areas of the state, including Puducherry and Karaikal, are expected to remain mostly dry during these two days.