From The Hindu · The Hindu Bureau · · 2m
Northeast monsoon arrives five days early in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu's major rainy season begins ahead of schedule, with forecasters predicting normal rainfall despite early onset offering no guarantee of good rains.
In brief
Tamil Nadu's major rainy season begins ahead of schedule, with forecasters predicting normal rainfall despite early onset offering no guarantee of good rains. The Regional Meteorological Centre declared the Northeast monsoon's onset on October 15, 2026, five days earlier than normal, with normal seasonal rainfall…
Monsoon arrives five days early
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai declared the Northeast monsoon's onset on Thursday, October 15, 2026, five days earlier than its normal date of arrival.
Orange alert for heavy rainfall
The RMC issued an orange alert for six districts including the Nilgiris and Madurai, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall of up to twenty centimetres on Friday.
Wet weather expected through October 21
Heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places in various coastal and interior districts. Wet weather will prevail till October 21, with heavy rainfall in some places.
Normal rainfall forecast for the state
While the Southwest monsoon ended with a twenty percent rainfall deficit in Tamil Nadu, the Northeast monsoon is forecast to bring normal rainfall overall.
Regional rainfall variations expected
The Delta and southern regions are forecast above-normal rainfall. North coastal areas may receive normal rainfall, while north interior areas could see below-normal rainfall.
El Niño may strengthen through February
V.R. Durai, head of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said strong El Niño conditions would prevail till February, after which it may begin to lose strength.
“Strong El Niño conditions would prevail till February, after which it may begin to lose strength.”
Early onset does not guarantee good rains
Y.E.A. Raj, former Deputy Director-General of Meteorology, said an early onset seven or eight days ahead does not guarantee good rainfall, citing weather data since nineteen oh one.
“an early onset, seven or eight days ahead of schedule, does not guarantee good rainfall.”
Government reports ninety-eight percent preparedness
Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said Tamil Nadu government had taken all precautionary measures for the Northeast monsoon, with nearly ninety-eight percent of preparedness works completed.
Chief Minister inspects flood mitigation works
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inspected flood mitigation and desilting works at Captain Cotton Canal in Vyasarpadi and at the confluence of Otteri Nullah and Buckingham Canal.
The essence
The Regional Meteorological Centre declared the Northeast monsoon's onset on October 15, 2026, five days earlier than normal, with normal seasonal rainfall forecast for Tamil Nadu.
