RMC predicts deep depression to make a landfall between Karaikal and Mamallapuram on November 30
RMC has issued red weather alert for some delta districts on Friday and for Chennai and its neighbouring districts and few other coastal districts on November 30
by The Hindu Bureau · The HinduThe deep depression that moved slowly and remained stationary since Wednesday (November 27, 2024) morning is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm on Thursday (November 28, 2024) evening. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai has forecast potential landfall of the weather system as a deep depression between Karaikal and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) on Saturday (November 30, 2024), bringing heavy rainfall over coastal areas.
The weather agency has issued a red weather alert indicating extremely heavy rainfall above 24.4 cm in one or two places of some delta and north coastal districts on Friday (November 29, 2024) and Saturday (November 30, 2024) as the system moves closer.
The weather disturbance that had kept the entire region on tenterhooks for almost a day did not bring intense rainfall as expected. Its movement had significantly reduced since Wednesday morning and delayed its development as a cyclonic storm, officials said. On Thursday (November 28, 2024), some places in delta region received light rainfall till 5.30 p.m.
According to RMC’s bulletin issued on Thursday (November 28, 2024) afternoon, the deep depression moved north-northwestwards and lies over Southwest Bay of Bengal, about 110 km east-northeast of Trincomalee, 310 km southeast of Nagappattinam, 410 km southeast of Puducherry and 480 km south-southeast of Chennai.
It is very likely to move north-northwestwards skirting Sri Lanka coast during next 12 hours. It will continue to move north-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mamallapuram around Saturday (November 30, 2024) morning as a deep depression with a wind speed gusting to 70 kmph.
S.Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said there is a possibility of marginal intensification of the deep depression into a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal with wind speed gusting to 85 kmph between Thursday evening and Friday morning. It may not be a strong cyclone.
The weather system would cross as a deep depression and bring moderate rainfall over many places in the State. Extremely heavy rainfall may pound one or two places in Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts and Puducherry and Karaikal on Friday. Eight other districts, including Ranipet and Tiruchi may receive heavy rainfall on Friday.
Rainfall would pick up over Chennai and its neighbouring districts, which have been missing intense showers, from Wednesday evening. While Chennai and its surrounding disricts, Ariyalur and Thanjavur has chances of rainfall up to very heavy intensity in one or two places on Friday, Chennai and neighbouring districts have been issued red weather alert on Saturday when the system crosses the TN coast. Villupuram, Kallakurichi and Cuddalore districts and Puducherry also lie in the path of extremely heavy rainspell on Saturday.
Intense rainfall may cover several other north and interior districts on Saturday and move to western ghats districts by Sunday. Strong surface winds gusting up to 70 kmph would blow over North coastal TN.
On the factors that led to the delay in forming of the cyclone, Mr.Balachandran said wind convergence in the lower level of the weather system reduced on Wednesday. Wind shear, which was high outside the weather system and less in core parts of the system, dispersed cloud formation and did not allow it to organise itself as a stronger weather system.
Moreover, other factors, including its interaction with the landmass in Sri Lanka and two high pressure ridges on north side too brought structural changes in the weather disturbance, he added.
Published - November 28, 2024 06:48 pm IST