Monsoon likely to arrive over T.N. on October 15, bringing relief from warm weather

After a prolonged spell of warm weather, several parts of Tamil Nadu are in for a break. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast that Northeast monsoon rainfall may commence over the southern peninsula from October 15.

Chennai experienced intermittent showers and a cloudy sky on Wednesday. Moderate rainfall is expected to continue on Thursday as well, with temperature likely to remain close to the normal range of 33-34 degrees Celsius.

Various weather stations, including Nagapattinam and Karaikal, received rainfall of 9 cm and 8 cm each till 6 p.m. Other places like Dharmapuri, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram also received light to moderate rainfall.

The Northeast monsoon is expected to bring fairly widespread rainfall over the State till October 20, putting an end to the extended spell of soaring temperatures in interior districts. On Wednesday, Erode recorded the highest maximum temperature of 37.8 degree Celsius in the State.

Officials of the RMC said the reversal of the wind pattern to Easterlies, one of the indicators of the monsoon arrival, had commenced. Fairly widespread rainfall has already begun in south coastal Tamil Nadu and is expected to spread to the north coastal region and other areas as well.

Southwest monsoon is expected to retreat entirely from the country on Thursday. The prevailing weather systems, including those over the Comorin area, would influence rainfall over the State.

The RMC has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall may lash isolated places in various coastal and Western Ghats districts on Thursday. Similar rainfall trends are likely in several interior districts till October 20. The wet spell would bring temperatures closer to normal from Friday, said officials.