Chennai, 2 December (H.S.) : Relief has arrived in the form of a downgraded weather system, as the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) announced that the deep depression, the remnant of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, has weakened into a standard depression. As of 5:30 AM today, the system was centred approximately 40 km east-southeast of Chennai, situated over the southwest Bay of Bengal and near the North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and South Andhra Pradesh coasts.
The depression, moving slowly southwestwards at a speed of three kilometres per hour, is currently situated about 25 km from the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. The RMC forecasts that the system is likely to maintain its intensity as a depression for the next 12 hours as it continues its slow track towards the coast. Following this, it is expected to further weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over the subsequent 12 hours.
Despite the weakening of the system, heavy rainfall has continued to lash the region. The Greater Chennai Corporation's data, covering the 24 hours ending at 5:30 AM, showed extreme cumulative rainfall in several parts of the city. Five locations recorded rainfall above 20 cm, with Parrys registering the highest at 26.5 cm, followed closely by Ennore at 26.4 cm, Ice House at 23.1 cm, and Basin Bridge at 20.7 cm.
The weather bulletin indicates that intermittent spells of moderate to heavy rain are highly likely to occur at a few places over Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram districts up to 1 PM. Furthermore, light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected in districts including Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villuppuram, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore, as well as the Puducherry and Karaikal area.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
