The IMD has predicted light to moderate rain in the coastal parts of the state from Sunday under the influence of a weather system forming over southeast Bay of Bengal. , Photo Credit: M. Vedan
In a rare occurrence in January, a weather system over southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to gain strength as a depression by the end of the month. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light to moderate rain may occur over coastal Tamil Nadu from Sunday.
The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai has announced that a low pressure area has formed over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining east equatorial Indian Ocean on Friday.
It is likely to intensify into a well-marked low-pressure area over the next two days and strengthen into a depression over southwest Bay of Bengal around January 31. The weather system is likely to approach the Sri Lankan coast around February 1.
It will bring light to moderate rain and warm night temperatures, which will be influenced by cloudy sky and increased moisture content in coastal parts of Tamil Nadu from Sunday. On Sunday, rains would be confined to one or two places over north coastal areas and Puducherry. Officials said the rain would spread further in the coastal areas and adjoining districts on Monday and cover other places in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in some parts of the state may drop by two or three degrees Celsius on Saturday as the weather system is still far away. The weather remained dry in Tamil Nadu on Friday and it did not rain till 5.30 pm
Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, S. Balachandran said that sometimes, weather systems form at low latitudes near the equatorial region during winter. However, weather systems of this intensity are rare in January compared to other seasons of the year.
storm in january
“We have weather systems which have intensified into depressions and even cyclonic storms over the Bay of Bengal in the past. Nearly 20 weather systems have formed over the Bay in January since 1891. Out of these, about 5 weather systems have come close to the Tamil Nadu coast.
Mr Balachandran said there had been six weather disturbances in January between 1980 and 2021. These weather systems over the Bay of Bengal were tracked in 1986, 1987, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2019.
What formed at a low latitude on 30 January 1987 intensified into a severe cyclonic storm by 1 February 1987. In 2019, a depression developed near the Andaman Sea between 4 and 7 January.
RMC has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea till January 31 due to strong winds over the Bay of Bengal. Chennai may witness partly cloudy sky till Sunday with maximum and minimum temperature of 30-31 degree Celsius and 21-22 degree respectively. Celsius respectively.