CHENNAI: After being delayed by more than a week, the Meteorological Department has forecast the likely commencement of the northeast monsoon (NEM) to be around October 30. The delay, met department officials say, is the result of a cyclonic storm ‘Kyant’, which is currently approaching the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. But with the storm poised to move further away from the coast, favourable conditions are expected to prevail for the onset of the monsoon. Normally, the NEM sets in over Tamilnadu by the third week of October.
S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai said they are monitoring the movement of the cyclonic storm. “It is presently over the east central Bay of Bengal but is expected to move westwards, which will then enable favourable conditions for the monsoon during the next three days,” he said. As soon as the cyclone moves away, Balachandran said the north easterly winds will move in to peninsular India, which will bring the rains.
Meanwhile, as a result of the cyclone, fishermen have been advised not to venture off along the Andhra Pradesh coast as sea conditions are likely to be rough. It is also expected that moderate to heavy rainfall will be experienced in a few places in the northcoastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai.