Chennai May Not Feel the Wrath of Cyclone Gaja

Guwahati: The tropical Cyclone Gaja is expected to cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore district and Pamban, in Ramanathapuram district, in the afternoon of Thursday.

On Monday evening, the cyclonic storm lay over the Bay of Bengal, about 720 km east-northeast of Chennai and 800 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam. Though the tropical cyclone is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the open seas, it will weaken gradually, and cross the coast only as a cyclonic storm. However, the storm is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over seven districts in the State on Wednesday and Thursday.

The India Meteorological Department. Weather models indicate moderate rainfall over Chennai during those days. However rainfall is expected over most parts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a few places in districts such as Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, scaling up to 24 cm on Wednesday and Thursday. One or two places in these districts may also receive rainfall in excess of 24.4 cm, for which a red colour-coded warning has been issued.

Speaking about the colour coded warning, S. Balachandran, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said, "Such colour-coded weather warnings are given for agencies involved in disaster management to be prepared even if extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in one or two places of the State. A red colour-coded warning for a State does not mean that the entire State is facing a threat of extremely heavy rainfall.”

Fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea till Thursday. As the cyclone moves inland, south Tamil Nadu and interior parts may also experience heavy rain on November 16. A storm surge of a height of 1 meter is expected in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Karaikal districts during the cyclone’s landfall.

However, Mr.Balachandran said: “Chances are less for heavy rains over Chennai. We may have moderate rain spells when the cyclone crosses the coast.”

S.R. Ramanan, former director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said the cyclone may help boost the State’s seasonal rainfall. The system is likely to reach Cochin as a depression. “Chennai may have more chances of rainfall as a new system may form near Sri Lanka after this system.”

Also Read: Cyclone Gaja: Red Alert Issued for Areas in Coastal Tamil Nadu