Bracing for downpour: Chennai received light rain on Friday when the sky was overcast for most part of the day.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
The well-marked low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to become a cyclonic storm by Monday morning, is likely to cause heavy rain, especially in north Tamil Nadu, from Saturday.
Intense rainfall may start in the northern districts from Sunday. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), the system is likely to become a depression over the Southeast and adjoining Central Bay of Bengal by Saturday, further concentrating into a deep depression by Sunday.
It is likely to gather strength as a cyclonic storm over the Southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal by Monday morning. The potential cyclonic storm is likely to be called ‘Cyclone Montha’, a name suggested by Thailand for tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.
Pallipattu in Tiruvallur district recorded the heaviest rainfall of 15 cm during 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Friday. Moderate rainfall continued at various places, including Kanniyakumari and Chennai, till Friday evening.
The RMC has forecast that the prevailing weather conditions will sustain wet conditions in the State until the month-end. While Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpattu districts may receive heavy rainfall on Saturday, intense rainfall is likely to lash six northern districts — Chennai and its neighbouring districts, Ranipet and Villupuram — on Sunday.
The police department has put up a banner prohibiting residents of Anjaneyar Koil Street at Consalpet in Vellore city from entering the stagnant rainwater on October 24, 2025. Fire and Rescue Services personnel evacuated the residents.
| Photo Credit:
C. Venkatachalapathy
An orange alert, indicating very heavy rainfall up to 20 cm, has been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts on Monday. A few more districts are likely to get heavy rain on Monday. Heavy rain may continue in Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts on October 28.
Excess rainfall
B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge), RMC, said there would be more clarity on the landfall of the cyclonic storm in a couple of days once the system became more marked and came closer. The vigorous Northeast monsoon had already brought excess rainfall across many districts, she added.
The State has received 22 cm of rainfall so far this season since October 1. This is half the average Northeast monsoon total of 44 cm. The monsoon has performed well in all districts so far, with some of them, like Kallakurichi, set to end the month with largely excess rainfall.
People wade through stagnant rainwater at the Koyambedu flower market in Chennai on October 24, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
B. Velankanni Raj
After a low pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Coast Guard has launched an outreach to fishermen at sea. The Coast Guard has already shepherded around 985 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry to the nearest harbours, an official release issued by the Ministry of Defence said. The Coast Guard has also asked fishermen at sea to take precautions and fishing vessels to return to the nearest harbour at the earliest, the release said.
A Coast Guard vessal alerting a fishing boat to the impending cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“All oil rigs/platforms have also been contacted by ICG ship/aircraft in area and advised to remain on alert for safety of assets,” it said.
Discharge stepped up
The Water Resources Department on Friday discharged more water from the Poondi reservoir, one of the key drinking water sources of Chennai, into the Kosasthalaiyar. The discharge was gradually stepped up to 9,500 cubic feet per second by Friday evening as the reservoir received a steady inflow from storage structures in the catchments and from the Kandaleru Poondi Canal.
Published – October 24, 2025 11:48 am IST
