Hyderabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of South India over the next five days due to a low-pressure area formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast.
In a statement, the IMD said a low-pressure area was formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the Tamil Nadu coast at 5.30 am on Wednesday and persisted over the same region at 8.30 am.
The IMD has forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 21 to 25, and over Kerala and Mahe on October 21, 22, 24 and 25. Heavy rainfall is also expected in Southern Karnataka from October 22 to 25 and Lakshadweep on October 21, 22 and 25.
The IMD also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 21 to 26.
In past 24 hours, very heavy rainfall was recorded in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while heavy rainfall occurred in Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region, it said in the statment.
The IMD further said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Thailand and adjoining Thailand and Myanmar is likely to emerge into the north Andaman Sea on Wednesday. Under its influence, another low-pressure area is expected to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23 and system is likely to move northwestwards and intensify further, it added.
Menwhile, the IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on October 21, along with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds reaching 30–40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, from October 21 to 23. Tirupati recorded 11 cm of rainfall during the past 24 hours, the highest recorded in the region.
In Telangana, there will be an isolated rainfall on October 21, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds reaching 30–40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, it said in the statement.