Chennai on high alert as Cyclone Senyar threat intensifies over Bay of Bengal

Chennai is bracing for a period of intense rainfall and potential disruption as a fresh weather system building near Sri Lanka is forecast to intensify into a cyclonic storm. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is monitoring the low-pressure area over the Comorin region and the southwest Bay of Bengal, which is expected to develop into a depression and could become Cyclone Senyar by Wednesday.

Also Read: Cyclone Senyar explained: Path, timeline, landfall, impact - What IMD’s latest forecast says

This new disturbance has shifted the city's focus from a previous system near the Strait of Malacca, which meteorologists now say may drift away and weaken. The current system holds the stronger potential for intensification, placing Chennai directly in its path.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Chennai on November 29, signalling a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The agency predicts the system will move north-northwest, developing into a well-marked low on November 26 and a depression by November 27.

The alert for coastal districts from Tiruvallur to Ramanathapuram is in place for November 29, with intense rainfall expected. Chennai will then shift to a yellow alert on November 30, where 6 to 12 cm of rain is possible within a 24-hour period. The delta districts may also face heavier spells on November 28 as rainbands tighten over the region.

Meteorologist Mahesh Palawat suggested that while the system might not produce extreme rainfall in Chennai, the alerts have likely been issued as a crucial precautionary buffer, according to The Weather Channel.

City officials have cautioned that even moderate rainfall could lead to significant water stagnation and drain overflow in many neighbourhoods. Commuters are being advised to prepare for severe disruptions at several key traffic hotspots.

These locations include T. Nagar, Guindy junction and Velachery main road. Other areas of concern are GST Road, Kodambakkam bridge, the Adyar river stretch, Madhavaram, Perambur bridge and the Koyambedu bus corridor. Motorists are urged to leave early, avoid underpasses and expect diversions during high-intensity spells.

The Chennai Corporation and power utility Tangedco may implement precautionary feeder shutdowns if waterlogging becomes severe. This could result in intermittent power cuts in localities near Pallikaranai, Mogappair, KK Nagar and parts of North Chennai to prevent electrical hazards.

The alert for Chennai comes as an existing weather system has already caused damage elsewhere in Tamil Nadu. A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered widespread flooding in Thanjavur district on Tuesday, submerging cultivated paddy fields exceeding 300 acres in localised areas. The PTI news agency reported that electric pumps were used to clear accumulated water from waterlogged parts of Thoothukudi.

Weather blogger Pradeep John noted that as the new cyclone forms, rainfall may reduce over the interior of Tamil Nadu, concentrating more towards Sri Lanka and coastal zones. For Chennai, however, the message is clear: prepare for a period of significant wet weather and its attendant disruptions.