24-05-2025
110% more than average rainfall took sting out of summer in city
Chennai: The city received 9.2 cm of rain this March, April, and May — 110% more than the average summer rainfall of 4.4 cm — said regional meteorological centre director B Amudha, while formally announcing the onset of the southwest monsoon on Saturday.
Southwest monsoon has reached Kerala at least a week ahead of usual June 1. The last time Kerala had an early southwest monsoon onset was on May 23 in 2009.
A red alert has been issued for Coimbatore and The Nilgiris on Sunday and Monday as isolated heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain at one or two places is likely to occur over Nilgiris and Ghat areas of Coimbatore districts. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Theni, Tenkasi, and Ghat areas of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.
Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea till May 28 as the sea is anticipated to be rough. Chennai will witness overcast skies and thunderstorms in isolated places on Sunday and Monday, she added. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 35 to 36 degrees Celsius.
Across the state, the departure was 92% from average rainfall of 11 cm to 21 cm this year, she said. On Friday, Nungambakkam recorded rainfall of 0.69 mm, while Meenambakkam recorded 3 cm of rainfall, and areas such as Madipakkam and Medavakkam received up to 5 cm , said Amudha. Maximum rainfall of 11 cm was recorded in Avalanche in Nilgiris.
The depression over Arabian Sea was expected to cross on Saturday, and a new depression is likely to form over Bay of Bengal on May 27.
