Chennai: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a yellow alert for 19 districts in Tamil Nadu, predicting heavy rainfall over the next two days.
According to the Weather Department, the expected rain is due to a cyclonic system and an upper air circulation over the sea. The districts likely to be affected include Coimbatore, Tiruppur, The Nilgiris, Madurai, Erode, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Krishnagiri, Ramanathapuram, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Thoothukudi, and Sivaganga.
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The RMC noted that while a cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Mannar has weakened, an upper air circulation remains active over the southwest Bay of Bengal, near the south Andhra coast. Extended forecasts indicate that coastal Tamil Nadu may experience below-normal rainfall, while other regions are expected to see above-average rain through November 7. From November 8 to 14, rainfall is predicted to be near normal or slightly above normal in many areas.
Fishermen are advised to stay out of the sea for the next 48 hours due to expected winds of 35-45 km/h, with gusts up to 55 km/h along the southern Tamil Nadu coast, the Gulf of Mannar, and around the Cameron region. The Northeast Monsoon, which began on October 17, has already delivered significant rainfall to Tamil Nadu.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipates normal to above-normal rainfall for northern Tamil Nadu and normal rainfall for the southern regions, although many southern districts have already seen considerable rain.
For the October-December season, the IMD projects that the southern peninsular region—including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh—will receive 112% of the long-term average rainfall of 33.4 cm. Tamil Nadu usually averages 44 cm during the northeast monsoon period.
In light of the rain, the Tamil Nadu Health Department has urged the public to be cautious about the spread of contagious diseases like dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, and influenza. Since January 2024, Tamil Nadu has reported 18,000 dengue cases.
The State Public Health Department advises residents to eliminate stagnant water around their homes to prevent mosquito breeding. Health camps have been set up across the state to identify cases of dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, and influenza.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian stressed that the department is closely monitoring vector-borne diseases, especially dengue, which is currently affecting 10 districts: Chennai, Coimbatore, Krishnagiri, Tiruppur, Tiruvallur, Theni, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, and Tiruchi. These districts account for 57% of the total dengue cases in the state.
Dr. T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, reported that the health department is tracking fever cases in both government and private hospitals. Residents are advised to avoid storing rainwater in discarded items, which can become mosquito breeding grounds, and to drink only boiled water to prevent waterborne illnesses.
Agency
Published: 02 Nov 2024, 11:34 am IST
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