Tamil Nadu schools shut today due to heavy rainfall? As Cyclone Ditwah heads towards southern state, check latest update

Cyclone Ditwah is intensifying and moving towards the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh coasts by November 30, bringing heavy to very rainfall in these states. Cyclone Ditwah, now positioned over coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, is set to bring intense rainfall over the delta and adjoining districts on Friday, before shifting towards north Tamil Nadu by weekend. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has declared a red alert for several districts on Friday and Saturday for Tamil Nadu.

In view of the approaching cyclonic storm Ditwah, the IMD has warned heavy to very heavy rainfall (64-204 mm in 24 hours) over northern Tamil Nadu till December 1, with extremely heavy spells (over 204 mm in 24 hours) likely on November 29 and 30.

Weather today: Are schools closed in Tamil Nadu?

Cyclone Ditwah is approaching Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast with the IMD issuing a red alert for several districts. Ditwah, the storm name proposed by Yemen, is heading towards the north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts along India’s east coast. It is most likely to reach closest to the Indian mainland near north Tamil Nadu sometime during the early morning hours of Sunday, the IMD updated.


ALSO READ: Weather today: Cyclone Ditwah to bring heavy rainfall in Andhra, Tamil Nadu and other southern states. Check IMD's latest update

Current forecasts indicate the cyclone may move close to the Chennai coast on November 29–30. There is no update yet on whether schools in Tamil Nadu will be closed on Friday.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Chennai on Thursday (November 27) announced red and orange alerts for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across various districts in Tamil Nadu. The cyclone is just 700 km away from Chennai, reports DT Next.

For November 28, an orange alert is in place for Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rain at one or two locations. A red alert has been sounded at one or two locations for Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Puducherry and Karaikal for November 29.

For November 30, an orange alert is in effect for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet. The orange alert has been issued to few places in Thanjavur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai for December 1. For December 2, a red alert has been issued for a few places in Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruchirappalli, Mayiladuthurai, Ariyalur and Karaikal.

ALSO READ: Chennai rain alert: Cyclone 'Senyar' to bring heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Andhra and other southern states. Check IMD's latest update

Cyclone Ditwah: Rainfall alert for coastal Andhra

The IMD has issued an ‘orange alert' (heavy to very heavy rain) has been issued for Nov 29 (Saturday) for Nellore, Tirupati, Annamayya, and Chittoor districts. Some parts of Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Kadapa, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts will also experience heavy rainfall.

For Sunday (Nov 30), ‘red alert' (extremely heavy rainfall) has been issued for Chittoor, Tirupati, Annamayya, Nellore, Kadapa, and Prakasam districts, while ‘orange alert' has been issued for Nandyal, Palnadu, Guntur, and Bapatla districts. Parts of Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Kurnool, NTR, Krishna, and West Godavari districts will also experience heavy rainfall.

On Dec 1, parts of Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur, and Krishna districts will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall while Kadapa, Nandyal, Kurnool, Palnadu, NTR, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, and Konaseema districts are likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall.

ALSO READ: Nikki Haley's son Nalin distances himself from Indian roots, says 'makes no sense to have foreign workers...'

The IMD has further stated that squally weather with wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting up to 55 kmph is likely to prevail along and off south coastal Andhra Pradesh for Friday. Gale wind with speeds reaching 60-70 kmph gusting up to 80 kmph will prevail from evening of Nov 29 till Dec 1 along and off coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, the IMD said.

Fishermen are advised not to venture along and off Andhra Pradesh coast till 30, while those inside the sea have been asked to return to the coast. Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh are also on alert, with extremely heavy falls likely on November 30, when the system moves closer to the coast.

(With inputs from TOI)