Will schools in Tamil Nadu remain closed on 19 November amid ongoing rain?

Schools across several districts in Tamil Nadu remained closed on Monday, 17 November, following heavy overnight rainfall and widespread waterlogging. Districts including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Villupuram and Cuddalore were placed under an orange alert, prompting district collectors to order a precautionary holiday for all schools.

As conditions improved, most districts reopened schools on Tuesday, 18 November, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) downgraded the rainfall warning from orange to yellow. However, showers resumed on Tuesday evening, leading the weather agency to once again issue an orange alert for a few areas, including Chennai, due to the likelihood of moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms.

What about November 19?

According to the latest IMD bulletin, light to moderate rain is expected across parts of Tamil Nadu, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated locations in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai. A yellow alert remains in place for these districts, signalling that rainfall intensity has reduced.

Local authorities have not issued any directive to close schools on 19 November. Given the forecast of only light to moderate rainfall, schools and educational institutions in Chennai and most other districts are expected to remain open on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu Weather Outlook

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for several regions in the state from 19 to 22 November, with heavier rainfall anticipated on 23 and 24 November.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places across Tamil Nadu between 19 and 21 November.

A low-pressure area that formed over the south-west Bay of Bengal on Sunday has moved towards the Sri Lankan coast, where it remained centred as of 8:30 a.m. on 18 November. The associated upper-air cyclonic circulation, extending up to 5.6 km above mean sea level, is expected to drift slowly in a west-northwesterly direction over the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, another low-pressure system is likely to develop over the south-east Bay of Bengal around 22 November. It is forecast to move west-northwestwards and intensify over the following 48 hours.

An earlier cyclonic circulation near southern Kerala’s coastline over the south-east Arabian Sea has now weakened.