Watch: Heavy Rains Hit Tamil Nadu, Red Alert Issued in Nagapattinam, 3 Dead

A waterlogged street in Chennai's KM Garden. Image used for representational purposes only.

(Photo: PTI)

Heavy, unpredictable spell of rains lashed several parts of Chennai on Thursday afternoon, with many low-lying areas getting waterlogged. Three people also reportedly died due to electrocution, amid the heavy rains.

Meanwhile, in view of the heavy rainfall, a red alert was issued for Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu on Friday, 31 December.

According to the Director of the MET Department-Chennai, Puviarasan, the rest of the coastal districts, including Tiruvallur, Chennai, will be in the orange category for the next two days.

Puviarasan further stated:

The pattern of cyclonic circulation is persisting at 5.8-km height and is still close to the coast. It will move a little bit in the east-west direction. So coastal Tamil Nadu will get widespread rainfall.

Director of the MET Department, Chennai, as per news agency ANI

The Regional Meteorological Centre had forecast heavy rains with thunderstorms in several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

S Balachandran, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology, said, “The interaction of the easterly winds at the lower level and westerly winds at upper level has brought rains to the city. We had given a forecast that the city will get rain. The rains in the city will continue till 3 January.”

Later in the evening, the IMD tweeted:

"Moderate Rain (5-15 mm/hr), thunderstorm, gusty winds (40-50 kmph) & lightning likely over Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Madurai, Dindigul, Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Thiruvalluvar, Ranippettai districts of Tamilnadu during next three hours."

Earlier, the IMD had said:

"Very heavy rainfall observed over Chennai and neighbourhood and rainfall activity likely to continue over the region during next 06 hours. Rainfall recorded from 0830-1945 IST of today (in mm). Chennai (MRC Nagar) - 198 Nungambakkam - 160."

Several areas in Chennai like Royapettah, Nungambakkam, MRC Nagar, Adyar, and T Nagar recorded rainfall of 100mm and more. Warnings were issued in the coastal areas of Chennai, like Mandaveli and Foreshore Estate.

By 3 pm, MRC Nagar had received the maximum of 13 cm, Nungambakkam receiving 12 cm of rain, and YMCA Nandanam 8 cm.

Traffic snarls were reported in many parts of the city with roads flooded within hours of heavy downpour.

"We are receiving easterly wind over the Bay of Bengal, when it converges along the coast the city is expected to receive rains, and also coastal districts and adjoining interior districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal area is likely to witness light to moderate showers for the next two days,” Dr B Geetha (Scientist D), Cyclone Warning Research Center, Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), Chennai said.

Heavy rains are likely to play spoilsport for New Year's celebrations as weathermen have forecast moderate showers over coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on Friday, 31 December.

Weather experts have said that with the recent spell of rain this year has surpassed 2015 in terms of annual rainfall. 2021 is officially the third wettest year of all time after 2005 and 1996.

Weather blogger Pradeep John said Mylapore crossed 200 mm of rainfall on Thursday. "One of the craziest spells of a lifetime. Chennai City (Nunga) beats 2015 annual rainfall," he tweeted.

"The annual rainfall of 2015 is overtaken by 2021. The year 2021 is the third wettest year of all time, after 2005 and 1996," he said.