The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued warnings of extremely heavy rainfall and squally winds over several parts of South India and adjoining seas. The alert comes as a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast continues to move northwestwards, affecting Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, and parts of south Andhra Pradesh.
The IMD stated that extremely heavy rainfall, exceeding 21 cm, has been recorded at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging between 7 to 20 cm has also been reported at isolated locations in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema. The weather department said these conditions are likely to persist over the next 24 hours.
The IMD further noted that a depression over the southeast Arabian Sea remains practically stationary near latitude 8.9°N and longitude 67.4°E, about 630 km west-southwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep) and 1,010 km southwest of Panjim (Goa). The system is expected to move slowly north-northwestwards over the next 24 hours. An upper air cyclonic circulation continues to prevail over the south Andaman Sea, while a Western Disturbance is influencing northern regions.
Under the combined influence of these systems, light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy showers is expected across South Peninsular India in the coming days, with very heavy rainfall likely over Kerala, Mahe, South Interior Karnataka, and parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, and North Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorms with lightning are forecast across the region for the next five days.
The IMD also warned of dense fog in Odisha on October 22 and 23, while thunderstorms with gusty winds are expected over Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh during the next five days. Coastal and interior regions of Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra may also experience thunderstorms with lightning over the next several days.
For the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, and Comorin areas, squally winds reaching speeds of 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, are likely to prevail till October 24, with rough to very rough sea conditions expected. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into these areas until conditions improve.
Along the Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea, squally winds with speeds of 45-55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph are likely along Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts from the evening of October 22 till October 23, accompanied by rough to very rough seas. Fishermen in these areas have been urged to return to the coast and avoid venturing into the sea.
The IMD said the combined effect of the low-pressure areas, depression, and Western Disturbances will continue to bring unsettled weather across the region, and the public is advised to exercise caution.