Monsoon gains strength in Tamil Nadu; heavy rainfall to continue till October 26

The Northeast monsoon continues to gather strength, with a low pressure area persisting over Comorin and adjoining south Tamil Nadu, keeping southern, interior, and Western Ghats districts on alert for intense rain until October 26.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued orange and yellow alerts warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts until October 26. Chennai is likely to receive isolated spells of heavy rain till Saturday, with rainfall intensity expected to go up from October 25.

Tamil Nadu’s dismal rainfall picture is gradually brightening, with the active monsoon bringing much-needed rainfall to various districts. This October, the State has received 13.3 cm of rain, nearly 23% above the normal share of 10.8 cm.

15 cm at Ezhudesam

Rain clouds are set to linger over the State as the prevailing weather system is expected to trigger rain spell at most places. Ezhudesam in Kanniyakumari district received a very heavy rainfall of 15 cm in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday (October 22, 2026). Several other weather stations, including in Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thiruvarur, received heavy rainfall.

The RMC has warned that three districts — Kanniyakumari, the Nilgiris, and Coimbatore — are likely to receive isolated very heavy rainfall with squally winds of speed reaching up to 50 kmph on Friday (October 23). A total of 26 districts in the south, interior, and Western Ghats regions have been put on yellow alert for heavy rainfall. Most other places, too, would receive moderate rainfall.

The active monsoon phase would sustain the rainfall momentum until October 26. On Thursday (October 22), several places, including Kodaikanal, Ariyalur, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Karur, and Salem, recorded spells of moderate rain till 6 p.m.

Warning from Central Water Commission

In its advisory, the Central Water Commission has cautioned that the water level could rise in rivers, including Moyar, Bhavani, Noyyal, Aliyar, Siruvani, Paralayar, Pazhayar, Kodaiyar, and in other waterways in Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, and Kanniyakumari until October 24. Inflows may also increase in the Pechiparai, Perunchani, Manimuthar, and Papanasam reservoirs.

V. R. Durai, Head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, RMC, said north Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, could receive downpours on Sunday and Monday (October 25 and 26), when the weather system would weaken and move across land. The prospects of the rain continuing over the State next week hinge on the low pressure area, which is expected to develop on Friday (October 23) over Southeast and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal. While it is likely to intensify further, rainfall sustaining over Tamil Nadu after October 26 depends on its movement and intensity, he said.