IMD issues heavy rain and thunderstorm alert for Chennai and 16 Tamil Nadu districts
The weather office has warned of lightning and wind gusts reaching 50 km/h across the state, with hilly districts facing heavy downpours.
Heavy rain, lightning and squally winds are moving across broad stretches of Tamil Nadu, prompting weather authorities to issue warnings covering the capital and more than a dozen districts.
The Chennai Meteorological Centre released an immediate short-term warning covering Chennai and 16 neighbouring and interior districts. Thunderstorms, lightning strikes and moderate to heavy rainfall were forecast to sweep through the region, driven by fast-moving local weather systems.
Alongside Chennai, the urgent alert covered Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Krishnagiri, Madurai and Virudhunagar.
Hilly areas brace for heaviest downpours
The India Meteorological Department said the most intense precipitation would hit higher elevations and western belts. Heavy rain is expected at isolated locations in the ghat sections of Coimbatore district, alongside the Nilgiris, Theni, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.
Forecasters warned that these districts could see winds gusting between 40 km/h and 50 km/h during storm activity. The combination of intense bursts of rain and strong gusts creates a risk of localised waterlogging on roads, disruption to evening traffic and falling branches in exposed areas.
Broad wet spell across the state and Puducherry
The broader forecast points to damp conditions settling over almost the entire state. Moderate showers accompanied by frequent lightning are expected in Tiruppur, Kallakurichi, Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari.
Similar conditions have been forecast for the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry and the Karaikal enclave.
Remaining parts of Tamil Nadu are expected to see intermittent light to moderate showers alongside occasional thunder over the coming hours. Regional weather patterns across southern India have brought a notable increase in convective storm activity, pulling moisture inland and triggering sudden, sharp evening downpours across several southern states.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Districts under immediate nowcast | 17 | Chennai Meteorological Centre |
| Expected wind gust speed | 40 to 50 km/h | India Meteorological Department |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| India Meteorological Department | Issued regional thunderstorm and heavy rainfall warnings. |
| Chennai Meteorological Centre | Issued short-term nowcast warnings for Chennai and 16 other districts. |
| Chennai | State capital included under the immediate thunderstorm alert. |
| Tamil Nadu | State experiencing widespread rain and thunderstorms. |
