Northeast monsoon arrives early in Tamil Nadu
RMC forecasts normal seasonal rainfall over the State. Meteorologists note that early monsoon onset does not always translate to above normal rainfall.
The Northeast monsoon has arrived in Tamil Nadu, arriving five days earlier than its typical date and coinciding with the end of the Southwest monsoon. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai announced the onset of the Northeast monsoon, issuing an orange alert for six districts, including Nilgiris and Madurai, which predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall of up to 20 cm on Friday.
Heavy rainfall may occur in isolated areas across coastal and interior districts, with wet weather expected to persist until October 21. The monsoon's arrival was declared based on northeasterly winds and widespread rainfall across the state. While the Southwest monsoon left Tamil Nadu with a 20% rainfall deficit, the Northeast monsoon is expected to bring normal rainfall, with optimistic forecasts for Delta and southern regions.
The early onset of the monsoon does not guarantee above-normal rainfall, as demonstrated by historical data showing only half of the years with early onset had above-normal rainfall. The Tamil Nadu government has taken all necessary precautions for the monsoon season, conducting review meetings and completing nearly 98% of the preparedness works.
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