Chennai, Aug 20 — A weak low-pressure circulation prevailing in the lower levels of the atmosphere over coastal Tamil Nadu is expected to bring rain to parts of the state over the next few days, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai said in its latest weather bulletin.
According to the department, one or two places in districts along the Western Ghats are likely to receive moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning from Thursday.
Strong surface winds may also occur during thundershowers in these areas. The rain is expected to become lighter and more scattered subsequently. From August 21 to 25, light rain is likely at one or two places across the Western Ghats districts and the coastal districts of northern Tamil Nadu.
Most other parts of the state are expected to experience dry weather, though isolated localised showers cannot be ruled out. The weak atmospheric system over the Tamil Nadu coast is influencing moisture movement and cloud formation, particularly over the western hill districts and northern coastal belt.
The weather department, however, has not forecast widespread or extremely heavy rain during the period covered by the bulletin.
In Chennai, the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy on Thursday. Moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning may occur in some parts of the city and its suburbs during the evening or at night.
The forecast suggests that rainfall could vary from one locality to another, with short spells possible in isolated areas.
While the Western Ghats districts may see moderate showers on Thursday, the outlook for the following five days points mainly to isolated light rainfall over the specified western and northern coastal districts.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded across Tamil Nadu during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday showed that Devala in the Nilgiris district and Yercaud in Salem district received the highest rainfall of six centimetres each. Mangalur in Cuddalore district recorded five centimetres during the same period, the weather bulletin said.
These figures reflected the scattered nature of the rainfall, with higher totals reported from hill and interior locations as well as a pocket in the northern coastal region. The RMC said it would continue to monitor atmospheric conditions and issue updated forecasts if there is any significant change in the weather pattern.