In Chennai, residents woke up this morning to overcast skies and a distinct chill, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the city on a Yellow Alert. The alert, which went out on Saturday, January 24, states that “it is a sign that precipitation will be moderate to heavy and thunderstorms and lightning will be very likely to occur,” a drastic “flip” from the sunny weather earlier in the week.
The Current: Why the Yellow Alert?
A sudden change in weather due to a persistent easterly trough moving across the coast of Tamil Nadu. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), January isn’t the dry month on the city’s calendar that it typically is but these easterly waves are lingering longer than usual this year.
What to Expect: Chennai and vicinity of Chennai (and neighboring areas such as Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur) will likely receive heavy rains over the evening.
Temperature & Humidity: With a maximum of 28°C down to 22°C and humidity above 80%, the air is thick and damp.
Traffic and Commutation Warnings
Early morning commuters are already familiar with thin drizzles and misty weather for Guindy, Teynampet and Velachery routes, the RMC told reporters. The RMC warned about slippery roads and reduced visibility during heavy periods. If the intensity increases as forecast throughout the night, low-lying parts might be slightly waterlogged.
The Flip: When Will the Skies Clear?
If next weekend has an extended duration and outdoor activities arise, that’s good news. The “weather flip” will be rapid. January 25 (Sunday): There will be much less rain. Expect a rainy day that will be “patchy” with cloudy skies, but no major washouts are expected.
- January 26 (Republic Day): More moisture in air, 80% chance of very short but light showers, but weather heading to stability.
- January 27 onwards: Clear skies again. But the sun has returned to full force Tuesday, and temperatures likely will revert to between 29°C to 30°C range.
State-Wide Impact
And it’s not just in Chennai, the Yellow Alert reaches numerous coastal and interior districts. Heavy showers are forecast today, Tiruvannamalai, Villuppuram and Cuddalore have been informed. Curiously, while the plains are being soaked, hill stations like Kodaikanal have recorded temperatures as low as 3.9 degrees Celsius, the coldest January morning in more than a decade.
