States » NorthPosted at: Oct 18 2026 7:08PM


Chennai records 36 cm rain as IMD warns of very heavy showers in Tamil Nadu till October 21

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Torrential rain battered Chennai, with Parrys recording 36 cm and Kathivakkam 34 cm in the 24 hours ending Sunday morning, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of further heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until October 21.
The IMD's evening weather bulletin, issued at 4.46 pm, said Chennai Central received 27 cm of rainfall, while Thiruvottiyur and monitoring locations in Ennore recorded 22 cm each during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am.
MGR Nagar recorded 19 cm, Tondiarpet and Perambur 18 cm each, Vadapalani 16 cm and Nungambakkam 15 cm, highlighting the intensity of rainfall across several parts of the city.
The weather department forecast isolated very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 18 to 21, followed by isolated heavy rainfall during October 22–24.
The warning comes as the northeast monsoon, which commenced over parts of southern India on October 15, continues to bring widespread rainfall to the region.
The IMD also forecast isolated very heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka on October 18.
Heavy rainfall is expected over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during October 19–21, south interior Karnataka during October 19–24, and Kerala and Mahe throughout October 18–24.
Lakshadweep is likely to receive isolated heavy rainfall during October 21–23.
The IMD said a low-pressure area persisted over the southwest Arabian Sea at 2.30 pm on Sunday, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.
The system was likely to become more marked during the next 24 hours, the department said.
An upper-air cyclonic circulation over the west-central Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coasts also persisted, extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level.
Another cyclonic circulation remained active over north interior Karnataka, while a trough extended from Lakshadweep to the west-central Bay of Bengal across Karnataka and south Andhra Pradesh.
The department warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph, over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during October 18–24.
Similar conditions were forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during October 18–20.
Squally weather with wind speeds of 35–45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, was also forecast over parts of the southwest Arabian Sea on October 19 and 20.
The IMD cautioned that heavy rainfall and strong winds could cause waterlogging and flooding in low-lying areas, damage standing crops and vulnerable structures, and disrupt road and rail traffic.
The department also warned of possible localised landslides, reduced visibility and disruption to helicopter operations in affected areas.
Farmers in Tamil Nadu were advised to drain excess water from paddy, banana, cotton, turmeric, sugarcane and tapioca fields, harvest mature crops during dry intervals and postpone fertiliser application and pesticide spraying during rainfall.
Similar precautions were recommended for farmers in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
In contrast, the IMD forecast dry weather across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and both eastern and western Uttar Pradesh throughout October 18–24.
The department said no significant weather activity was expected over most parts of northwest, central, eastern, western and northeastern India during the week, although isolated thunderstorms were forecast in some regions.
Ludhiana in Punjab recorded the lowest minimum temperature across the plains of India at 16.6 degrees Celsius on October 18.
The highest maximum temperature reported for October 17 was 38 degrees Celsius at Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.
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Tags: #Chennai records 36 cm rain as IMD warns of very heavy showers in Tamil Nadu till October 21
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