IMD Issues Orange Alert as Tamil Nadu Faces Intense Northeast Monsoon
Tamil Nadu schools closed as the northeast monsoon triggers heavy rain and waterlogging in multiple districts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially declared the onset of the northeast monsoon over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, ushering in a period of heavy to very heavy rainfall that has already disrupted daily life across southern districts. This seasonal shift, typically bringing 30-40% of the state's annual rainfall between October and December, arrives earlier than the long-term average, driven by favourable easterly winds and cyclonic circulations.
A low-pressure system over coastal Tamil Nadu and another over the southeast Arabian Sea are intensifying the downpours, with the IMD forecasting sustained activity through the weekend. The southwest monsoon, which contributed to a 15% above-normal rainfall this year, is set to withdraw completely from the peninsula within 48 hours, marking a smooth transition but heightening flood risks in low-lying areas amid urban expansion and climate variability.
Heavy overnight rains since Wednesday have prompted authorities to shut schools in multiple districts, prioritising student safety amid waterlogging and potential travel hazards. In Tirunelveli, District Collector A. Sukumar announced a holiday for all schools on Thursday, citing incessant showers that have inundated paddy fields and swollen the Nambiar River with runoff from the Western Ghats.
Similar closures are in effect in Thoothukudi and Tenkasi, where urban flooding has turned streets into shallow lakes, as captured in videos showing thunderous downpours and lightning in Thoothukudi city. Thoothukudi Collector G. Lakshmipathy echoed the decision, noting the administration's focus on drainage clearance and relief distribution. These measures affect over 5,000 schools serving 5 million students, underscoring the monsoon's immediate socioeconomic toll on agriculture-dependent regions where paddy, the dominant crop, faces yield losses estimated at 10-20% from prolonged inundation.
The IMD's orange alert—its second-highest warning level—covers Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Ramanathapuram, where 115-204 mm of rain could lash isolated spots within 24 hours, potentially triggering landslides in hilly terrains and flash floods in river basins. A yellow alert for heavy rainfall (64-115 mm) extends to Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivaganga, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, and Erode, while Chennai, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Kancheepuram, and others brace for gusty winds up to 40 kmph alongside thunderstorms.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai reports "active" monsoon conditions persisting since early October, with cumulative rainfall already 25% above normal in southern Tamil Nadu. Vulnerable coastal communities are advised to avoid low-lying areas, with the state disaster management authority deploying NDRF teams and activating 24/7 control rooms. Last year's delayed monsoon caused deficits leading to water rationing; this year's vigour, while beneficial for reservoirs like Vaigai (now at 60% capacity), demands vigilant preparedness to mitigate urban chaos seen in Chennai's 2023 deluge.
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As the northeast monsoon gains momentum, Tamil Nadu's government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has ramped up coordination with central agencies for crop insurance claims and infrastructure repairs. The IMD's extended forecast predicts a brief respite by Sunday before another surge, emphasising the need for resilient urban planning in a state where 40% of the population resides in flood-prone zones. Farmers in the Cauvery delta, already grappling with interstate water disputes, view the rains as a mixed blessing for rabi sowing, while tourism in hill stations like Ooty faces cancellations.
With climate models projecting intensified monsoons due to warming oceans, this season's patterns could inform long-term strategies, balancing bounty with the ever-present threat of excess.
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