Tamil Nadu government has ordered the closure of schools in 11 cities, including Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur, in response to heavy rainfall warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The move comes as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety amidst forecasts of torrential rains over the next 24 hours. Cities such as Villupuram, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Ranipet, and Chennai are among those affected by the closures.
The IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts for various districts, predicting moderate to heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe, with coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, and South Interior Karnataka also on high alert. The weather agency predicts that these conditions will persist until December 16, with extremely heavy rainfall expected in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal on December 12.
Chennai has already experienced heavy rainfall earlier this month due to Cyclone Fengal, which made landfall in Puducherry on November 30. The cyclone caused significant disruptions, including high tides, rough sea conditions, and intense rainfall.
The IMD has reported heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with additional downpours recorded in Rayalaseema over the last 24 hours. A well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal near Sri Lanka has shifted to the Gulf of Mannar and is expected to gradually weaken over the next 12 hours.
Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea near Tamil Nadu, the Bay of Bengal, and the Sri Lankan coast due to warnings of rough sea conditions in the coming days. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, and South Interior Karnataka are expected to experience heavy rainfall on December 12 and 17. Additionally, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are forecasted to receive significant downpours throughout mid-December. Authorities are actively monitoring the evolving weather situation to ensure public safety.
Air travel has also been affected, with SpiceJet issuing an advisory to passengers warning of potential delays and disruptions to flights due to the adverse weather in Chennai. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status regularly for updates.
