Dark clouds gather over the dry stretches of the Pallikaranai marshland in Chennai, hinting at changing weather as the region awaits rainfall on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The monsoon is crucial for replenishing water sources after Tamil Nadu recorded a 21% rainfall deficit during the June-Sep southwest monsoon, its third-highest deficit since 2002. The five key reservoirs supplying Chennai held 3,959mcft, or 33.74% of their combined capacity, as of Oct 15. Tamil Nadu receives around 45cm of rain during the Oct-Dec northeast monsoon, nearly 48% of its annual rainfall, while Chennai receives around 87cm, about 60% of its annual total. On Thursday morning, weather bloggers reported intense spells delivering around 40mm in 30 minutes in Ambattur and Ayappakkam. Core city areas remained largely dry, with Nungambakkam recording only traces and Meenambakkam 0.4mm by 5.30pm. Cloud cover kept temperatures down to 32.9°C in Nungambakkam and 30.8°C in Meenambakkam.
V R Durai, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said the northeast monsoon was likely to be normal this year. “Chennai may receive moderate intensity rainfall for the next two days,” Durai said. Northern districts may receive below-normal rainfall, southern districts normal to above-normal rainfall, and coastal districts normal rainfall. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai
Chennai: Intense rain spells lashed Chennai’s western suburbs on Thursday morning as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the onset of the northeast monsoon over south peninsular India. The agency has forecast rain of varying intensity across Tamil Nadu over the next three to four days, with heavy to very heavy rain likely along Western Ghats on Friday and heavy rain over Chennai and neighbouring districts on Saturday.