Chennai rains: Depression over Bay of Bengal to make landfall today

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for residents in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as a depression over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal is moving towards the coast.

This weather system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and potentially disrupt daily life in several areas.

According to the IMD, the depression moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 22 km/h over the past six hours. As of late last night, October 16, 2024, it was centered over the Bay of Bengal, approximately 80 km east-northeast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and 150 km southeast of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. This places the depression very close to the coastline.

The system is likely to continue moving in a west-northwest direction and is expected to make landfall between Puducherry and Nellore, close to the north of Chennai, by early morning today, October 17, 2024.

Depression over westecentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal

The depression over southwest and adjoining westecentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 22 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 2330 hours IST of yesterday, the 16th October 2024… pic.twitter.com/my4Ez0j4zG

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 16, 2024

Expected Weather Impact
As the depression nears the coast, heavy rainfall is likely to affect several districts in north Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh. Chennai and its surrounding regions can expect heavy to very heavy rains, along with strong winds, particularly in the coastal areas.

Nellore, too, is expected to see downpours and localized flooding in some parts.

Heavy monsoon rains triggered severe flooding across parts of southern India, leading to the closure of schools, colleges, and government offices on Wednesday. Moreover, power outages and flight cancellations disrupted normal life in the industrial and tech hub, Chennai and Bengaluru.

In Chennai, the high-security Poes Garden area, home to top politicians and celebrities, was severely flooded, with residents navigating knee-deep waters. The India Meteorological Department forecasted winds of up to 60 kph until Thursday.

The Tamil Nadu government has deployed over 200 boats and disaster response teams to manage the situation, while experts attribute the worsening rains to climate change.