Chennai residents experienced another day of unpredictable weather on Thursday as the aftereffects of Cyclone Ditwah continued to influence the region. The city witnessed scattered showers and sudden, localized downpours, catching many commuters off guard. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now provided some relief, indicating that the intensity of the rainfall is set to decrease starting Friday.
Rainfall Pattern and Impact Across the City
The unseasonal and patchy showers created significant disruption. Many people were drenched by sudden bursts of rain that occurred despite bright weather earlier in the morning. The rainfall distribution was uneven across the metropolis. Areas in North Chennai and the neighbouring Tiruvallur district recorded continuous rainfall overnight. As the day progressed, the shower activity gradually shifted towards the southern parts of Chennai.
Certain localities bore the brunt of the heavy precipitation. Manali, Ennore, and Wimco Nagar were the most affected, recording over 20 centimetres of rainfall in a 24-hour period. In contrast, other areas like Meenambakkam, Ennore, and Pallikaranai saw relatively lighter spells, registering around 1.3 cm of rain. The dense cloud cover associated with the system caused Chennai's maximum temperature to dip to 27.5°C, nearly two degrees below the normal average for this time.
Official Warnings and Wider State Impact
The IMD maintained its heavy rainfall warning for Chennai and nearby districts throughout Thursday, cautioning residents about continued atmospheric instability. A yellow alert remains in effect for multiple districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, and the Nilgiris due to the lingering impact of Cyclone Ditwah.
The cyclone's aftereffects were felt across Tamil Nadu, with serious consequences reported from several districts. Tragically, three deaths have been reported in rain-related incidents. The agricultural sector suffered a blow with widespread crop damage reported in Nagapattinam. Infrastructure disruption was noted in multiple districts, and flooding was observed near the Vedaranyeswara Temple.
Localized Waterlogging and Future Forecast
Within Chennai, the persistent rains intensified waterlogging in several low-lying pockets. Areas such as Vyasarpadi, Kodungaiyur, MKB Nagar, and Mullai Nagar were particularly affected. Civic response teams were deployed to pump out excess water into the Buckingham and Captain canals to mitigate the situation.
Looking ahead, weather blogger Pradeep John, known as Tamil Nadu Weatherman, noted that no major rainfall events are expected for at least a week once this current weather system completely moves out of the region. While the rain intensity is set to ease, with only isolated spells expected in parts of Chennai and Tiruvallur from Friday onwards, authorities advise residents to stay cautious, especially in areas prone to waterlogging. Monitoring and drainage efforts have been stepped up to ensure minimal disruption until the weather fully stabilizes.
