Johnson Cherian.
The regional weather office on Thursday said conditions were favourable for the onset of North East monsoon in Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours, with various parts of the state receiving good spells of rain.
Moisture-laden easterly winds were blowing over the southern region, Director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, S Balachandran told reporters in Chennai.
“Favourable conditions for the onset of North East monsoon in most places over the next 24 hours persist,” he said.
Coonoor in Nilgiris and Parangipettai in Cuddalore received 8 cm and 4 cm of rainfall, respectively, in the last 24 hours ended 0830 hrs on Thursday, he said.
North East monsoon brings a significant amount of rainfall to peninsular India, with Tamil Nadu dependent on it for its bulk of annual dowmpour.
The South West monsoon, which had brought copious rainfall this year in several parts of the state including Chennai, has already withdrawn.
Moderate rainfall was expected in most places of the state in the next two days, Mr. Balachandran added.
According to summary observations recorded in the last 24 hours ended 0830 hrs today, rainfall occurred at a few places over Tamil Nadu.
Many places in districts such as Villupuram, Nilgiris, Vellore, Nagapattinam and Kancheepuram received good spells of rain.
Tamil Nadu had received deficit North East monsoon last year, resulting in a drought-like situation in many parts of the state, even as farming prospects were affected.
However, a good South West monsoon this year had raised hopes of better days even as the weather office has forecast that the North East monsoon will be “most likely normal” this time.
