Chennai: Light rain likely in the next 48 hours, says IMD

CHENNAI: A well-marked low pressure over the Bay of Bengal close to Andaman Sea may lead to a rise in temperatures in the coming days and later drop to bring rainfall. For the next 48 hours, the IMD has forecast light rain in the city due to a cyclonic circulation.
According to IMD officials, the system is likely to move north-northeastwards pulling all the winds and bringing westerly or surface winds to coastal areas of Tamil Nadu leading to a rise in temperature by at least 3°C.But as the system weakens, a convection could bring rainfall. In the meanwhile, there are chances of light rain in the city in the next two days.
"By May 16 or 17, temperatures may increase by three degree above normal. This rise will continue till about two days after the system crosses the land as it moves up north. This is because we would get west-northwesterly winds," said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, Chennai.
The regional weather inference of IMD said, "The well marked low pressure area over now lies over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over central parts of south Bay of Bengal on May 15 and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over the same region by May 16 evening. It is very likely to move northwestwards initially till May 17 and then re-curve north-northeastwards towards North Bay of Bengal during May 18-19." "Condition are likely to become favourable for advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of southeast bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea and Andaman and Nicobar Islands around May 16," it added.
For the next 48 hours, IMD has forecast, "the sky condition likely to be generally cloudy. Light rain is likely to occur in some areas. Maximuym and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 36°C and 28°C,"
The IMD director said while the models do not show rainfall in the city for the next 48 hours, analysis of weather charts indicate cyclonic circulation may bring rainfall. "A chart analysis shows cyclonic circulation at two levels in the upper atmosphere. However, some data is missing for the models. Out of 42 upper air observations, we received only 16 or 17," Puviarasan said.