Depression over Tamil Nadu coast to bring heavy rains: MeT

CHENNAI: As parts of Tamil Nadu continued to receive rains for the second day today, the MeT department said the low pressure area over Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is likely to bring heavy rainfall in the next two days in coastal areas of the southern states.

"The low pressure over north Sri Lanka and adjoining areas of Gulf of Mannar and southwest Bay of Bengal has moved and intensified into depression and as of 8.30 hours today is located 240 kms South East of Chennai," Regional Meteorological Centre Director S Balachandran told reporters here.

During the next 24-48 hours, the depression is expected to further intensify into into a deep depression, he said asking fishermen not to venture out to sea.

Under its influence, heavy rainfall is likely over coasts of North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, South Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep. There would be heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours in many parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, he said.

On the forecast for Chennai and its neighbourhood, including Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts,he said there would be heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.

While several areas in the southern districts have been lashed by rains for the past two days, the city and suburbs were experiencing moderate rains since last night.

Nannilam in Tiruvarur district received maximum rainfall of 14 cms in the last 24 hours ended 8.30 AM today, he said.