Torrential Rainfall Hits Southern Tamil Nadu: High Alert Issued for Potential Flooding and Disruptions
Chennai, November 23, 2023 – In the aftermath of sustained rainfall, southern Tamil Nadu finds itself grappling with the consequences of heavy precipitation. Over the 24-hour period ending widespread rainfall was observed across the region, affecting both south and north Tamil Nadu, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.
The deluge resulted in heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations, with notable impacts on districts such as Tiruppur, Madurai, Virudunagar, and Cuddalore. Additionally, regions including Nilgiris, Theni, Erode, Thiruchirapalli, Chennai, and Nagapattinam experienced isolated heavy rain during the same period.
Significant rainfall measurements in milimeters during the aforementioned 24-hour duration included 170 mm in Tiruppur district (Tiruppur PWD), 140 mm in Avinasi (district Tiruppur), 70 mm in Uthukuli, and 60 mm in Tiruppur itself. In Madurai district, notable measurements included 140 mm in Andipatti and 70 mm in Elumalai. Other districts, such as Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Theni, Thenkasi, Virudunagar, Trichy, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, and Karaikal, reported varying degrees of rainfall during this period.
In the subsequent timeframe from 08:30 IST on November 22, 2023, to 06:45 IST on November 23, 2023, certain areas experienced remarkable rainfall, with Vamban KVK AWS (Pudukkottai) recording 131.0 mm, Ramnadu_KVK AWS (Ramanathapuram) at 85.5 mm, and Tondi (Ramanathapuram) at 81.6 mm, among others.
With the intensity of rainfall showing no signs of abating, the India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall warning for the 24-hour period ending at 08:30 IST on November 23, 2023. Districts such as Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul, Sivagangai, and Pudukottai are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rain, with additional isolated heavy rain forecasted for various other districts, including Erode, Tiruppur, Madurai, Virudhunagar, and Karaikal.
As a precautionary measure, authorities are advising residents to be vigilant and prepared for potential disruptions. The forecast indicates that moderate thunderstorms with moderate rain are likely at isolated places, posing risks such as slippery roads, traffic disruptions, waterlogging in low-lying areas, falling tree branches, and blockages on roads. Additionally, informal settlements may face damages, while water levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are expected to rise, potentially leading to mudslides in hilly areas. Residents are urged to exercise caution and stay tuned to weather updates as the situation unfolds.
