Heavy Rains Forecast for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; Orange Alert Issued

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has predicted heavy rainfall over the next four days across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The Weather Department has issued an orange alert for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Pudukkottai districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchy, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, and Villupuram districts are also expected to experience heavy rains during this period.

The RMC stated that while a low-pressure area persists, it is unlikely to intensify into a storm.

Tamil Nadu has received 14% excess rainfall during the ongoing northeast monsoon season (October 1 to December 10), with 447 mm recorded against the normal 393 mm. Chennai witnessed a 16% increase in rainfall, recording 845 mm, while Coimbatore saw a 47% surplus.

The Weather Department has urged fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea, advising those already at sea to return to shore immediately.

This forecast comes shortly after Cyclone Fengal, which struck Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from November 29 to December 1, causing significant devastation. The cyclone resulted in:

12 fatalities.

Inundation of 2,11,139 hectares of agricultural land.

Damage to 1,649 km of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, 997 transformers, 9,576 km of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 water tanks.

The Tamil Nadu government reported that 69 lakh families and 1.5 crore individuals were adversely affected by Cyclone Fengal.

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has requested ₹2,000 crore in interim relief from the National Disaster Response Fund. An initial damage assessment pegged the losses at ₹2,475 crore. The Central government has sanctioned ₹944 crore as interim relief for the affected regions.