Chennai Meteorological Department issues orange alert for heavy rainfall across 8 districts in Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The Chennai Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall across eight districts and issued an orange alert for Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
Very heavy showers are expected in Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, and Thiruvarur districts. Officials have indicated that rainfall between 12 to 20 centimetres is likely in some areas, prompting the orange alert.
Thoothukudi district, in particular, faces concerns over rising water levels.

Safety advisories have been issued for residents near the Thamirabarani River—from Kaliavur to Punnakayaal—and those living near the Koramballam River and anicut areas, warning against water-related activities, including swimming and riverbank visits.
Residents in flood-prone areas have been urged to exercise caution, while fishing activities have been suspended due to unfavorable weather conditions.
District Collector Ilam Bhagwat has directed officials to closely monitor key water bodies, including Marudhur anicut, Srivaikundam anicut, Koramballam anicut, Upparu Odai, and Uppathu Odai, ensuring swift action if necessary.

Reports indicate substantial rainfall across various parts of the city, aligning with the IMD's orange alert for the region.
The downpour has caught Chennai residents off guard, following a period of intense heat.
The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) reported on Monday that an upper-air cyclonic circulation is present over the Equatorial Indian Ocean and the adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, approximately 1.5 km above mean sea level.
Forecasts suggest light to moderate rainfall across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with isolated heavy rainfall expected in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi.