The Chennai Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted continued thunderstorm activity for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry across the districts of Cuddalore, Puducherry, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Nilgiris, Theni, Tirunelveli, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet, Vellore and Tirupattur, a day after exceptionally heavy thunderstorms battered Cuddalore and Puducherry.

A national weather forecast from India Meteorological Department, Delhi, indicated the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at isolated/scattered places over Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe on both Monday and Tuesday.

But it warned that isolated heavy rainfall may lash parts of Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Isolated thunderstorms and lightning are forecast over Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe until Monday.

European agency forecast

A European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) outlook until Monday indicated a busy day for parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Interior Karnataka and North Tamil Nadu. This spans an area from Hubballi, Ilakal and Kurnool to Kavali, Nellore, Chennai, Tirupathi, Chittoor, Tiruvannamalai, Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Kola Gold Fields, Davangere, Ballari, Anantapur, Prodattur, Hindupur, Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Punganuru, Hunsur, Hanur, Coimbatore, Udhagamandalam, Salem, Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli and Muthupet.

Rains returning to Central India

The European agency sees excess rains heading back to parts of Peninsular India and adjoining East-Central India during February 22-28. Likely making gains are almost entire Maharashtra except the coast, Telangana, Rayalaseema, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The US National Centres for Environment Prediction expects thunderstorms to continue to flare up over the region for another week (until March 1) following which the pre-monsoon season normally sets in. The first week of March may see thunderstorms leave Tamil Nadu and get confined to the Kerala coast.

Unusually intense showers

The 24 hours ending on Sunday morning rainfall at many places over South Interior Karnataka; at a few places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry; at isolated places over Kerala, Mahe, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam and Rayalaseema. Very light rainfall occurred over Karaikal area and Telangana. Dry weather prevailed over Lakshadweep area.

Rainfall recorded (3 cm and above) at major centres in Tamil Nadu are: Pondicherry and Cuddalore-19 each; Manimutharu (district Tirunelveli) and Kurinjipadi (Cuddalore)-10 each; Papanasam (Tirunelveli)-8; Cheranmahadevi (Tirunelveli), Parangipettai and Bhuvanagiri (Cuddalore)-7 each; Coonoor-6; Shoolagiri (Krishnagiri), Marakkanam and Vanur (Villupuram)-5 each.

Areas of moderate activity

Areas of less intense activity included Uthukuli (Tiruppur), Sankaridurg (Salem), Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli) and Palani (Dindigul)-4 each; Srimushnam, Panruti and KM Koil (Cuddalore), Tirupuvanam (Sivaganga), Bhavanisagar (Erode), Kothagiri (Nilgiris), Cheyyur (Chengalpattu), Mettur (Salem), Vilathikulam (Toothukudi), Kollidam (Nagapattinam), Mettupalayam (Coimbatore) and Periyanaickenpalayam (Coimbatore)-3 each.

Centres receiving rainfall of three cm or above in Coastal Andhra Pradesh are Ongole (Prakasam)-3; in Rayalaseema, Kadiri (Anantapur)-3; and in Karnataka, at Devanahalli-3. Rest of the centres, including all major ones in Kerala, recorded rainfall of less than three cm, the Regional Met Centre, Chennai, said.

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