IMD warns of heavy rain in 15 Tamil Nadu districts from Sunday

Heavy rain is likely in 15 districts of Tamil Nadu from Sunday. The southwest monsoon remains active, the India Meteorological Department said.

A bulletin from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai said heavy rain is expected over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Kanyakumari, the ghat areas of Virudhunagar, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli districts starting Sunday.

In northern Tamil Nadu, heavy rain is likely over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts during the same period, the weather data showed.

The IMD warned fishermen that squally winds of 45-55 kmph are likely over parts of the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal from June 29. The Met Office also issued an ocean current alert for the coasts of Nagapattinam, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Karaikal and Ramanathapuram, advising harbour and marine operations to exercise caution.

Maximum temperatures are expected to remain near normal from Saturday through June 30 over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and the Karaikal area, the report added.

For Chennai and its suburbs, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely on Saturday.