Chennai rain: Tamil Nadu to receive heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning today. Here's what IMD has predicted about unstable weather conditions for the next two days

Tamil Nadu is likely to receive heavy rainfall on Sunday at isolated places across several districts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Chennai and its neighbouring areas are likely to get moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. According to the daily weather report from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here, heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Kallakurichi, Villuppuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Ramanathapuram districts, along with Puducherry.

For the next 24 hours, the sky is likely to be generally cloudy. Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is expected in some areas in Tamil Nadu, the IMD said. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 28-29°C and 22-23°C, respectively. Light to moderate rain is likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with a few places in North Coastal Tamil Nadu expected to receive showers.

Chennai weather update

Light to moderate rainfall may occur in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Tiruvallur. As per the IMD forecast, Chennai is likely to see a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall and thunderstorms. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 29 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively. On January 26, Chennai is likely to see partly cloudy skies and light rain. In addition, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Ramanathapuram districts are also likely to witness spells of intense rainfall during the day.


For Chennai and its suburban areas, the weather department has predicted moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at several locations through the day. While widespread flooding is not anticipated at present, intermittent showers may cause temporary inconvenience, particularly during peak traffic hours.

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According to the IMD, moderate rainfall is likely to continue across Tamil Nadu on Monday as well, though the intensity may gradually reduce in some interior regions. No fog conditions have been forecast anywhere in the state during this period. The department has projected that minimum temperatures across Tamil Nadu may rise by up to 3 degrees Celsius above normal, leading to relatively warmer nights.

Minimum temperatures are likely to be above normal by 2-3°C at isolated pockets over the state until January 26. In the past 24 hours, Coimbatore recorded a minimum of 18.9°C, while Udhagamandalam (Ooty) saw a low of 6.4°C.

Significant rainfall recorded in the 24 hours, including 9.3 mm at Chennai (Nungambakkam) and 4.7 mm at Meenambakkam. Since January 1, the state has recorded a total of 26 mm of rainfall against the normal of 10.8 mm.

Heavy rainfall likely in nine Tamil Nadu districts

The IMD Chennai has forecast heavy rainfall for nine districts of Tamil Nadu today, warning residents to remain cautious as unstable weather conditions are expected to persist over the next two days. According to an official statement from the Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), an easterly atmospheric wave over the southwest Bay of Bengal is driving the current spell of rainfall. Owing to this system, several parts of Tamil Nadu are expected to receive rain for at least the next two days.

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The department has warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely during the day in districts including Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, and Namakkal. Additionally, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Ramanathapuram may also experience intense spells of rain.

Meteorological officials noted that the rainfall could be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas, raising the risk of localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying regions, and traffic disruptions. Authorities have urged fishermen to monitor weather bulletins regularly, as sea conditions over parts of the Bay of Bengal may remain unsettled. The public is advised to stay alert and follow safety instructions issued by local administrations as the weather situation evolves. The weather office noted that while the current wet spell continues, dry weather is expected to return to the region from January 27.

(With PTI inputs)