Chennai: As the northeast monsoon intensifies over Tamil Nadu, rain is likely to dampen Deepavali celebrations in Chennai and several parts of the state on Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast thunderstorms in the city and heavy rain at isolated places in eight districts on Deepavali day.
In Chennai, the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy with a possibility of moderate rain or thunderstorms during the day. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 31 degree Celsius and the minimum, around 25 degree Celsius.
For Chennai residents, the possibility of rain has added some uncertainty to plans for the festival, particularly for families planning early morning visits, outdoor celebrations and evening gatherings.
“We are hoping for a cloudy day rather than continuous rain. We have planned to visit relatives in the morning and spend the evening with the children. If there are only brief showers, it should not affect our plans much,” said R. Karthik, a resident of Velachery.
Others said the changing weather pattern over the past few days had made them cautious about making outdoor plans. “The weather has been unpredictable. It can be sunny in the morning and suddenly rain later in the day. We are planning to finish our celebrations early and avoid travelling during the evening if there is heavy rain,” said S. Meenakshi, a resident of Anna Nagar.
The IMD has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari on Sunday.
Several other districts are also likely to receive rain or thundershowers, including Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpet, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruchy, Madurai, Dindigul, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli.
The rain is associated with the prevailing weather systems over the southern peninsula and the continuing northeast monsoon activity. The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in parts of the state.
For Chennai, however, the forecast does not indicate continuous or widespread heavy rain. Short spells of rain or thunderstorms could occur, meaning that the weather may vary considerably between different parts of the city.
The possibility of rain is expected to be closely watched by residents, particularly those planning to travel across the city or celebrate outdoors. While a wet spell could disrupt cracker-burning and evening gatherings, residents are hoping that any showers remain brief enough to allow families to continue with their Deepavali plans.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
