Heavy Rain Lashes Tamil Nadu: Alert Issued for 12 Districts, Fishermen Advised to Stay Ashore

Chennai (The Uttam Hindu): Heavy rainfall continued across several parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai, on Wednesday, disrupting daily life. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for 12 districts of the state as rain intensifies.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the state’s hilly and coastal regions. Thunderstorms and strong winds are also expected in several southern and western districts.

According to the latest forecast, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari districts are likely to witness heavy to very heavy rain during the day.

Meteorologists said the rainfall has increased due to moist easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal colliding with a low-pressure system over South India.

In Chennai, intermittent rain that began in the morning continued throughout the day, causing waterlogging in several areas. The sky is expected to remain partly cloudy, with moderate to heavy thunderstorms likely in the evening.

The city’s maximum temperature is expected to hover around 32°C, while the minimum temperature may remain between 26°C and 27°C.

Due to the worsening weather, district administrations in southern and western Tamil Nadu have been asked to decide on closing schools and colleges based on local conditions. However, despite persistent rain, no official announcement regarding school closures had been made for Chennai and Chengalpattu by Wednesday evening.

The IMD has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea, as winds ranging from 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, are likely over the Gulf of Mannar, Kanyakumari Sea, Kerala coast, southeast Arabian Sea, and Lakshadweep–Maldives region.

High waves are expected in these regions, prompting authorities to urge fishermen to stay ashore and avoid risky areas.

Officials have also appealed to the public to remain cautious, avoid waterlogged zones, and follow the instructions of local authorities and disaster management teams.