The Tamil Nadu Meteorological Department has said heavy rains are likely for the next 24 hours in the Southern areas of Tamil Nadu. The rains are caused by a deep depression lying 170 Km Southeast of Kanyakumari.
The IMD forecast announced heavy rains in Thiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Dindigul and Virudhunagar.
After the MeT Department gave the forecast, collectors of Thiruvarur, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Pudukottai districts declared a school holiday on Thursday.
The MeT Department is observing the depression and will alert residents if it gets classified as a cyclone. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency Tweeted a warning, “The system is very likely to move West-Northernwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours.”
It further added, “Under its influence, squally weather with wind speed reaching 45 to 55 Kmph gusting to 65 Kmph very likely along and off Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai coasts.”
The State Disaster Management Agency also advised fisherman in Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai and Thoothukudi to not venture out to sea.
On Wednesday night, Kanyakumari experienced strong gusts of winds uprooting more than 50 trees in the area. The rainfall in the district was recorded at 34 mm of rainfall.
