Chennai to get heavy rain today? Check latest updates, Pongal prediction, high tide warnings

Chennai is set to receive light to moderate rainfall, the city's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) said on Saturday, in addition to Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Nagapattinam, Thiruvallur, and parts of Puducherry and Karaikal.

It has also warned of waterlogging in several of these areas, which may also cause increased traffic.

Light thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 55-65 km/h have also been forecast in these regions, which have received a yellow alert.

This comes amid the movement of a deep depression from the southwest Bay of Bengal in a "nearly northwestward" direction.

As per its last update, the depression was yet to cross the coast between Sri Lanka's Trincomalee and Jaffna, and is expected to do so on Saturday afternoon. After crossing this point, it is expected to weaken as it reaches Tamil Nadu's eastern coasts.

"Pongal will be rain-free across the state," a local broadcaster predicted on X, adding that most parts of Chennai would be covered by the light to moderate rains.

However, he also warned farmers in Delta, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Kallakuruchi and other northern districts near to the coast to keep a close vigil on crops.

This comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday had issued a mix of yellow and orange alerts in the state, with places like Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai—as well as Puducherry and Karaikal—then expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. These orange alerts have since been downgraded to yellow.

However, the IMD had also warned in an earlier bulletin of high tide at the coastlines of Nagapattinam and Karaikal. Waves are expected to be 2.7-3.1m tall.

Once the depression significantly weakens on Monday, the southern and interior districts of the state will also get some rainfall.