Storm Murasu to bring heavy rain to north Tamil Nadu
The cyclonic storm is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast as a severe cyclonic storm between Nellore and Narsapur.
The cyclonic storm Murasu moved west-northwestwards at 25 kmph and was located over the Southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. The system was approximately 420 km east-southeast of Chennai and 490 km east-southeast of Nellore.
The storm is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday morning. It is likely to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur with wind speeds of 100 to 120 kmph between Monday midnight and early Tuesday morning.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning for Tiruvallur district during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday. Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and Nilgiris are also expected to receive heavy rain.
Chennai District Collector S. Malathi Helen has declared a holiday for schools on Monday due to the predicted heavy rainfall. For the period starting 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Chennai and Tiruvallur may experience heavy to very heavy rain with wind gusts of 40-50 kmph.
Moderate rainfall is predicted for several other districts, including Vellore, Cuddalore, Madurai and Tirunelveli, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal. On Tuesday, the Nilgiris district is expected to see heavy rain at certain locations.