Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Chennai
woke
up
to
a
refreshing
spell
of
cool
breeze
and
intermittent
rain
on
Saturday,
offering
much-needed
relief
from
recent
dry
conditions.
The
city
and
its
suburbs
experienced
pleasant
morning
weather
as
cloud
cover
remained
thick
and
light
showers
passed
through
several
neighbourhoods.
According
to
the
Regional
Meteorological
Centre
(RMC),
this
change
in
weather
is
being
driven
by
a
combination
of
easterly
and
westerly
systems
influencing
Tamil
Nadu.
Chennai
and
its
suburbs
experienced
cool
breeze
and
intermittent
rain
on
Saturday
due
to
easterly
and
westerly
systems,
with
the
Regional
Meteorological
Centre
forecasting
light
to
moderate
rainfall
in
several
districts
including
Chennai,
Chengalpattu,
and
Tiruvallur.
Coastal
districts
may
see
moderate
rainfall,
with
the
possibility
of
heavy
spells,
and
weather
enthusiasts
predict
moderate
rainfall
from
Chennai
to
the
delta
districts
on
January
24,
and
widespread
rainfall
across
coastal
Tamil
Nadu
on
January
25.
The
weather
department
has
forecast
light
to
moderate
rainfall
at
isolated
places
over
Chennai,
Chengalpattu,
Tiruvallur,
Kancheepuram,
Villupuram,
Cuddalore,
Mayiladuthurai,
Nagapattinam,
Tiruvarur
and
Thanjavur
districts.
Similar
conditions
are
also
likely
over
Puducherry
and
the
Karaikal
region.
Coastal
districts,
particularly
the
stretch
between
the
Cauvery
delta
and
Chennai,
may
witness
moderate
rainfall
in
many
locations,
with
the
possibility
of
one
or
two
heavy
spells
later
tonight,
depending
on
the
interaction
with
a
westerly
trough.
Explaining
the
prevailing
conditions,
the
RMC
said
a
trough
in
easterlies
is
running
along
longitude
85°E
to
the
south
of
latitude
10°N
at
about
0.9
km
above
mean
sea
level.
In
addition,
an
upper
air
cyclonic
circulation
lies
over
South
Interior
Karnataka
and
neighbouring
areas
at
1.5
km
above
mean
sea
level.
Meanwhile,
the
earlier
upper
air
cyclonic
circulation
over
the
southeast
Arabian
Sea
and
adjoining
Lakshadweep
region
has
weakened,
allowing
the
current
systems
to
dominate
weather
activity
over
Tamil
Nadu.
As
a
result,
Chennai
and
its
suburbs
are
expected
to
see
on-and-off
spells
of
rain,
particularly
during
the
morning
hours,
with
rain
intensity
likely
increasing
during
the
night.
Weather
observers
say
the
next
two
days
could
be
especially
favourable
for
rain
lovers.
Weather
blogger
R
Pradeep
John
described
the
situation
as
an
“awesome
monsoon-like
start” for
the
city,
urging
residents
to
enjoy
the
conditions
before
a
brief
dry
phase
sets
in.
According
to
the
outlook
shared
by
weather
enthusiasts,
January
24
is
likely
to
see
moderate
rainfall
from
Chennai
to
the
delta
districts,
while
January
25
could
bring
widespread
rainfall
across
coastal
Tamil
Nadu.
By
January
26,
rainfall
activity
is
expected
to
shift
towards
interior
and
southern
parts
of
the
state.
Key
areas
likely
to
benefit
include
Nagapattinam,
Thanjavur,
Tiruvarur,
Karaikal,
Perambalur,
Ariyalur,
Cuddalore,
Puducherry,
Villupuram,
Tiruvannamalai,
Kallakurichi,
Salem,
Vellore,
Ranipet,
and
the
Kancheepuram-Tiruvallur-Chennai-Chengalpattu
belt.
Rainfall
data
shared
by
the
blogger
also
highlights
how
unusual
January
showers
have
become
in
recent
years.
Tamil
Nadu
has
already
recorded
25.8
mm
of
rainfall
in
January
2026,
which
is
above
the
normal
January
average
of
12.3
mm.
With
Republic
Day
falling
amid
this
wet
spell,
residents
across
the
state
are
expected
to
experience
a
cool,
rainy
holiday
weekend-one
that
many
will
gladly
welcome.
