The anticipated heavy downpour gave Chennai a miss on Saturday, leaving behind only a chilly breeze and overcast skies. Despite the disappointing dry spell, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several districts for Sunday.
Why the Rain Stayed Away on Saturday
Meteorologists explained that the expected heavy spells did not reach the city because the weather system weakened significantly and remained stationed far from the coastline. Strong wind shear played a disruptive role, pushing the convection away and ultimately altering the predicted rainfall pattern.
By Saturday evening, the system had crossed the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka near Mullaitivu. It is forecast to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area by Sunday morning as it travels westwards towards Tamil Nadu.
Sunday's Weather Outlook and IMD Warning
Despite the system's weakening, its effects are expected to be felt over the next couple of days. P Senthamarai Kannan, director of the regional weather forecasting centre at IMD, stated that the circulation will persist in the upper atmosphere. Combined with north-easterly winds, this will cause convergence and lead to rainfall.
"On Sunday, its impact could be seen over north coastal Tamil Nadu and even some interior ghat areas. Models show moderate to heavy rain in Chennai," Kannan said.
The IMD's yellow alert warns of heavy rainfall between 6 to 12 centimetres in 24 hours for Chennai, Chengalpet, and Kancheepuram on Sunday. Isolated heavy spells are also possible in Cuddalore and Villupuram.
Detailed Forecast for Chennai and Region
For Sunday, the city and its suburbs are likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. Generally cloudy skies will keep temperatures in check, with maximums expected between 27–28°C and minimums between 22–23°C.
On Saturday, the cloudy conditions resulted in below-normal temperatures. Nungambakkam recorded a maximum of 27.7°C, while Meenambakkam saw 28.1°C. Only light drizzles were reported in a few pockets, with Villivakkam's automatic rain gauge measuring a mere 0.5mm.
Other parts of Tamil Nadu also received light rainfall, including:
- Nagapattinam: 1mm
- Grand Anaicut in Thanjavur: 2.5mm
- Hill stations Coonoor and Yercaud: 1mm each
In terms of seasonal totals, Chennai has already received 21.9mm of rainfall since January 1, which is approximately 130% above the normal level for this period. The state of Tamil Nadu has logged 8.1mm, about 26% above normal.
