The several weeks-in-the-making low-pressure area has exited the Bay of Bengal to the South-West and lies over this (Saturday) afternoon over Sri Lanka and adjoining Comorin region, just off South Tamil Nadu.

This would bring heavy to very rainfall to the West Coast of India starting from Kerala from the South to Coastal Karnataka and further northward into Goa-Konkan in the days to come.

No all-clear

However, this does not mean that Tamil Nadu gets the all-clear; this is because the easterly winds that flow into the 'low' emerge from the Bay and have to cross coastal and south interior Tamil Nadu.

The moisture-laden winds would cause occasional rains over coastal Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and neighbourhood, over the next few days as well.

Extended alert

India Met Department has now extended the heavy rainfall warning along coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala for three more days until Tuesday (December 8).

But the US Centre for Climate Prediction sees possibility of heavy rainfall valid for the region, including Chennai and neighbouhood, for another week.

This is because the 'low' will leave behind its parent trough more or less intact, which would continue to feed its offspring that lies in the Comorin region and adjoining Lakshadweep Sea.

Cloud movement

Meanwhile, intermittent drizzle to forceful rain has returned to haunt the flood-wary Chennai, which has recorded 4.8 cm of rain during the 24 hours ending at 4 pm this afternoon.

Overcast conditions and a steady drizzle are being reported from parts of the metropolis from this morning as menacing clouds have started approaching mainly the Central and South-East coast of Tamil Nadu.

Clouds have since engulfed the skies over the Chidambaram-Kumbakonam-Karaikal-Nagapattinam-Pattukottai-Vedaranniyam and the Ramanathapuram-Thoothukkudi-Tiruchendur-Kanya Kumari belts.

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