Chennai Weather Today: Children wade through a knee-deep waterlogged road in Chennai after heavy rain lashed the city (Photo: PTI Tamil Nadu-Chennai Weather Highlights: The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, issued an orange alert for several northern districts – including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet and Kancheepuram – warning of very heavy rainfall through Wednesday. The Nilgiris and Ghat sections of Coimbatore may receive up to 20.4 cm, while 18 other districts – including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai and Virudhunagar – remain on yellow alert for heavy rain.
For the third straight day, winds from the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah battered Chennai and surrounding districts on Wednesday as the weakened weather system stalled unusually close to the Tamil Nadu coast, which meteorologists say has prolonged heavy rainfall across the region.
Once a deep depression, Ditwah has now weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area along the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline. Despite this, its slow inland drift has kept rain bands rotating over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and northern coastal districts, triggering repeated bursts of heavy rainfall since early Tuesday.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu districts till 10 pm. Light to moderate rainfall is likely over Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Kanniyakumari, Perambalur, Ranipet, Tenkasi, Teni, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tirucannamalai, Viluppuram districts.
Intense thunderstorm activity over Tiruvallur district and adjoining North Chennai continues and the weather department has urged citizens to be cautious.
Meteorologists say Ditwah’s stall, rather than its intensity, is what has made it impactful. The depression is likely to stay for the next 36 hours near Chennai itself, according to independent weather forecaster Pradeep John, noting that the system appeared unable to move decisively west or east. The RMC expects the system to weaken further into a low-pressure area by Thursday as it moves southwest inland.
AIADMK member I S Inbadurai on Wednesday flagged the catastrophic impact of cyclone Ditwah on Tamil Nadu's farmers during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, urging the Centre to immediately dispatch an assessment team as thousands of acres of cropland remains submerged.
Cyclone Ditwah and the ensuing monsoon rains have devastated paddy, banana, sugarcane, betel and other crops across the delta region.
In Tirunelveli district, paddy cultivation in Tenkashi and Ramanathapuram lies completely underwater, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farming families.
The MP invoked former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami's repeated demands to the state government to dig canals and ponds before the monsoon to prevent such disasters. He said proper survey of crop damage and timely assistance to affected farmers had not been provided.
PTI
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, issued an orange alert for several northern districts – including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet and Kancheepuram – warning of very heavy rainfall through Wednesday. The Nilgiris and Ghat sections of Coimbatore may receive up to 20.4 cm, while 18 other districts – including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai and Virudhunagar – remain on yellow alert for heavy rain.
IMD warns fishermen to stay away from the sea till at least Thursday as squalls with speeds of up to 45 kmph are expected over open sea.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsFishermen Warninghttps://t.co/cAHkWzTg4J pic.twitter.com/bpZT9MexHU
— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 3, 2025
An orange alert has been issued for heavy rainfall in seven districts of Tamil Nadu: Thiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Nilgiris, and Coimbatore (Ghat areas).
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsHEAVY RAINFALL WARNINGS pic.twitter.com/CDEfJu1JXM
— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 3, 2025
A temporary (two-hour validity) Red Alert has been issued for rain in Ponneri and Mathavaram. An Orange alert has been issued Uthukottai, Ambatur, Thiruvottiyur, and Kancheepuram, while Thiruvallur, Arakkonam, and Nemili are under a yellow alert.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsRMC Chennai - Nowcast Rain alert valid for next two hours 2025-12-03-10:07:37 pic.twitter.com/aTMMGE7un0
— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 3, 2025
Thousands of devotees thronged the Girivalam Path in Tiruvannamalai to take part in the annual Karthigai Deepam festival. Pilgrims walked around the sacred Arunachala hill, offering prayers and witnessing the spiritual rituals even as dark clouds hovered over Tiruvannamalai.
VIDEO | Tamil Nadu, Tiruvannamalai: Thousands of devotees thronged the Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai to take part in the annual Karthigai Deepam festival. Pilgrims walked around the sacred Arunachala hill, offering prayers and witnessing the spiritual rituals.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2025
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/h4Criy0Iqv
An IMD Orange Alert for heavy rain is in place Nilgiris, Erode, and Coimbatore districts. Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Theni, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Salem, and Namakkal districts in Tamil Nadu, the IMD said.
Light to moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning is likely over Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Tiruchirappalli, Ramanathapuram, Nilgiris, Ghat areas of Coimbatore, Theni, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu and the Karaikal area as well, the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
Meanwhile, in Tiruvannamalai, where there are chances of rain, the Tiruvannamalai Thirukarthigai festivities are underway. Hundreds of devotees have gathered to attend the rituals despite rains.
VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: Preparations are underway in Tiruvannamalai for this year’s Karthigai Deepam festival at the world-renowned Arunachaleswarar Temple.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 2, 2025
Devotees are steadily arriving, while authorities keep strict vigil around the sacred Arunachala hill, which suffered a major… pic.twitter.com/SW3DDmVD1K
Moderate rain with thunderstorm and lightning is very likely over a few places in Chennai, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The IMD has warned of waterlogging and slippery roads in several areas. Traffic may also be impacted.
If you are just joining us, let us bring you up to date with the latest situation in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The remnants of Cyclone Ditwah triggered heavy overnight showers, and persistent rainfall through the morning caused flooding in several areas of Chennai and its northern suburban districts — Chengelpet, Kanchipuram, and Tiruvallur. Large stretches of Vyasarpadi and other northern neighbourhoods were submerged. Knee-deep water slowed vehicle movement in Perambur, Raja Annamalaipuram, Ashok Nagar, Velachery, Kathipara, Perungudi, Choolaimedu, T Nagar, and Saidapet, reported news agency ANI.
The Greater Chennai Corporation said around 22,000 personnel, including officials, were on the ground clearing clogged drains, removing fallen branches, and pumping out excess water. In Chetpet, a parked car was damaged when a house wall gave way after overnight rain, though no injuries were reported. Tree branches were also brought down in several parts of the city due to strong winds accompanying the showers.
Ennore logged the highest rainfall at 26 cm, while Pallikaranai recorded the lowest at 10.5 cm between 8 AM on December 1 and 8 AM on December 2.
Revenue Minister K K S S R Ramachandran told reporters that crops raised in 2.11 lakh acres were destroyed, and 582 heads of cattle died. As many as 1,601 huts/tenements were damaged and four people died due to rain-related incidents, he said, adding the government would provide a relief of Rs 20,000 per hectare to farmers for crop loss due to rains. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Integrated Command and Control Centre and reviewed the relief measures and steps to drain the rainwater.
Several parts of northern Tamil Nadu on Tuesday continued to witness rains and the death toll due to rain-related incidents across the state increased to 4 and standing crops on more than 2 lakh acres were destroyed. While the rains caused heavy inundation of low lying areas and traffic snarls, the deep depression weakened into a depression and it is very likely to become a well-marked low-pressure area, the India Meteorological Department said.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning over Chennai, Thiruvallur and Ranipettai districts till 10 pm Tuesday. Light to moderate rain is likely over Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Tiruvannamalai, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thenkasi, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar districts.
The deep depression (remnant of cyclonic storm Ditwah) over west-central and adjoining areas of southwest Bay of Bengal and North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts remained practically stationary about 35 km from the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts. “It is very likely to recurve slowly southwestwards and weaken into a depression during the next 12 hours,” the weather office said.
As the deep depression over Bay of Bengal and north Tamil Nadu is likely to recurve towards south Chennai, and the India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain in four districts, including the capital city. Heavy spells accompanied by moderate thunderstorms with maximum wind velocity of 40 - 60 kmph are likely in Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts, the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
With PTI inputs
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Ranipet. The districts have been issued an orange alert as per the latest bulletin released by IMD.
— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 2, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, along with State Minister K.N. Nehru and Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan, held a review meeting in Chennai on Tuesday with Corporation officials to assess the impact of Cyclone Ditwah and the city’s ongoing response measures.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Chennai | Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, State Minister K.N. Nehru, mayor of Chennai, Priya Rajan, hold review meeting with Chennai Corporation Officials over impact of cyclonic storm ‘Ditwah’ pic.twitter.com/S3gTCy0mEe
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2025
An Indian national who returned to Chennai from Sri Lanka said their 29-member group managed to enjoy only one day of a planned six-day tour as heavy rain and flooding from Cyclone Ditwah brought travel to a halt. Calling it a “nightmare experience,” he said the group even missed a government-arranged flight due to prolonged travel delays. He added that intervention by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, state officials and Sri Lankan MP Senthil Thondaman helped facilitate their return and provided crucial assistance during the crisis.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: An Indian national who recently returned from Sri Lanka says, "We are 29 people from Chennai. We planned a 6-day tour of Sri Lanka, but we enjoyed only 1 day because of heavy rain and flooding... It is a nightmare experience... Because of the long… pic.twitter.com/zbewit7Vtn
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2025
Several tourists from Tamil Nadu arrived back in Chennai on Tuesday after Cyclone Ditwah caused extensive damage across Sri Lanka.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Several tourists from Tamil Nadu return from Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread destruction. pic.twitter.com/DMdlyRo48B
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2025
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, reported that Erode registered the highest maximum temperature in the state on Tuesday at 33.6°C. Among hill stations, Ooty recorded 18.8°C, which is 2.3 degrees below normal, while Coimbatore stood at 32.2°C.
On the minimum temperature side, Dharmapuri logged the lowest temperature in the plains at 20.5°C, and Kodaikanal recorded 10.9°C in the hilly region.
pic.twitter.com/9jUljKGfwZ— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 2, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai reported that Erode registered the state’s highest maximum temperature on Tuesday at 33.6°C. Temperature readings across stations showed mixed departures from normal, with Ooty recording 18.8°C, which is 2.3 degrees below average. Coimbatore stood at 32.2°C, while other districts reported near-normal variations. The IMD noted that departures from normal temperatures are indicated in brackets in the daily bulletin.
Chief rainfall figures (in cm) recorded across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between 8.30 am on December 1 and 8.30 am on December 2
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsCHIEF AMOUNT OF RAINFALL (IN CENTIMETERS) FOR TAMILNADU, PUDUCHERRY AND KARAIKAL [FROM 08:30 IST OF 01.12.2025 TO 08:30 IST OF 02.12.2025]https://t.co/2G1wBpAWZO pic.twitter.com/JAIHRRq2Nf
— IMD-Tamilnadu Weather (@ChennaiRmc) December 2, 2025
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