Heavy Rains Shift Westward Today as Ditwah Weakens; Western Ghats on Alert
Remnant cyclone triggers fresh deluge as system reverses course.
The remnant circulation of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, now reduced to a depression, dramatically altered its path on Tuesday evening, shifting from a slow north-northwestward drift to a south-southwestward movement toward the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast. Positioned merely 25 km off the shoreline at its closest point, the system continued to pump intense moisture bands into Chennai and adjoining areas, prolonging the city’s battle with extreme rainfall.
Exceptionally heavy precipitation lashed northern parts of the city through Tuesday, with Ennore registering 26 cm, Parrys Corner 25 cm, and Ice House 22 cm in the preceding 24 hours. Multiple northern and central localities recorded 14–21 cm, pushing the city’s average rainfall to 13.45 cm by Tuesday morning, with additional showers adding to the total through the evening.
The Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, has forecast a marked westward shift in rainfall activity from Wednesday onward. As the depression weakens into a well-marked low-pressure area and moves inland, the core of heavy to very heavy rain is expected to relocate to the Western Ghats region, particularly Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and Erode districts, while isolated heavy spells may occur in several interior districts of Tamil Nadu.
Also Read: IMD Issues Red Alert as Deep Depression Batters Chennai, Thiruvallur with Heavy Rain
In response to persistent waterlogging and forecast conditions, authorities have declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts on Wednesday. Educational institutions in Chengalpattu district will also remain closed, extending the precautionary measures taken across the affected region.
The slow southwestward crawl of the system at just 3 km/h underscores its reluctance to dissipate quickly over the warm coastal waters, prolonging the impact on Tamil Nadu even after the cyclone’s official weakening. Relief is expected only after the remnant circulation fully merges with the landmass by Wednesday morning.
Also Read: Heavy Rains Batter Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Ditwah Remnants Lash the Coastline
