India
Northeast monsoon starts 5 days early in Tamil Nadu
The Hindu··1d ago
Chennai's Regional Meteorological Centre declared the Northeast monsoon on Thursday, five days before normal onset and as the Southwest monsoon withdraws. An orange alert covers six districts including the Nilgiris and Madurai, with up to 20 cm rain forecast for Friday. Wet weather is expected till October 21. Tamil Nadu ended the Southwest season with a 20 percent rainfall deficit.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Residents in orange-alert districts face heavy to very heavy rain through at least October 21.
- North interior Tamil Nadu may see below-normal rain even as the Delta could get above-normal totals.
- Disaster officials said nearly 98 percent of monsoon preparedness work was completed statewide.
What's Happening
- Officials cited northeasterly winds and fairly widespread rainfall among onset criteria.
- El Niño is expected to strengthen, though RMC said Bay systems also shape totals.
- Former meteorologist Y.E.A. Raj noted early onset does not guarantee a wet season.
Two Monsoons
- Tamil Nadu relies on the Northeast monsoon for much of its annual rain.
- The Southwest monsoon closed with a 20 percent deficit in the state.
- Normal Northeast onset is five days later than Thursday's declaration.
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