Heavy rains lash Tamil Nadu as IMD extends alert till October 9: Chennai on watch

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an extended heavy rainfall alert for Tamil Nadu, warning of continued downpours across 23 cities till October 9. The department attributed the persistent rain to two low-level atmospheric circulations — one prevailing over South India and another over Tamil Nadu — that are fuelling moisture into the region.

According to the Chennai Meteorological Department, heavy rains are expected today in Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari hill areas, Nilgiris, Dindigul, Theni, Tenkasi, Madurai, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga. The weather system is set to shift over the coming days, bringing heavy rainfall to different parts of the state: Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore and Puducherry on Monday; Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem and Tirupattur on Tuesday; and hilly areas of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Chengalpattu on Wednesday.

On Thursday, heavy rainfall is likely over Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tirupattur, Vellore and Ranipet districts.

The IMD has also placed 12 districts, including Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Tirupattur, Namakkal, Trichy, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, under a heavy rain alert for today.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Shakti, which had intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea, has weakened but continues to influence Tamil Nadu’s weather by drawing moisture inland. The system has now moved west-southwestwards, about 470 km west of Dwarka in Gujarat, and is expected to weaken further.

In Chennai, residents can expect partly cloudy skies with intermittent light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in some areas. Temperatures in the city are likely to range between 32–33°C (maximum) and 24–25°C (minimum).

The IMD has also forecast a dip in daytime temperatures by 2–3°C across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert for weather updates and exercise caution in flood-prone and low-lying areas.