The heavy rain became so severe in India that the country’s meteorological service had to issue its highest warning alert. And forecasters warn that a tropical threat could be brewing in the coming days.
By Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Nov. 11, 2021 12:11 PM EST | Updated Nov. 15, 2021 5:48 AM EST
Rounds of heavy rain that inundated parts of Sri Lanka and southeastern India this week caused severe flooding and mudslides that are being blamed for at least 41 deaths across the region.
The majority of the deaths have been the result of drownings across Sri Lanka where at least 25 have died due to the rains, according to Reuters. In addition, landslides injured five others in the country, according to local officials.
Parts of Sri Lanka were drenched with heavy rain from last weekend into early this week with over 4 inches (100 mm) reported in some areas. The heaviest rain has since moved out of the country, but showers and thunderstorms could stick around through the weekend, AccuWeather forecasters say.
A Sri Lankan man wades through a flooded road carrying his bicycle in Kochchikade, about 30 kilometres north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. At least 16 people have died in floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka following more than a week of heavy rain, officials said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
As India’s northeast monsoon gets into full swing, heavy rain also fell in southern India across the state of Tamil Nadu this week. Flooding killed at least 16 in the state, according to the State Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran. Thousands of residents in low-lying areas were evacuated to safety, local officials said, according to Reuters.
India’s northeast monsoon is an annual occurrence that pumps moisture from the Bay of Bengal into southeastern India during the autumn and early winter which can result in heavy rain and flooding, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and Lead International Forecaster Jason Nicholls.
It is also not uncommon for tropical cyclones to develop across the southern Bay of Bengal and move into southeastern India during the northeast monsoon.
This is what happened this week as a tropical depression formed in the Bay of Bengal and moved inland across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, bringing another dose of heavy rain and gusty winds.
India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the heavy rain across portions of Tamil Nadu on Thursday. A red alert is the highest warning level that the IMD issues, and it indicates a significant risk to life is possible.
From last Sunday to Friday, nearly 14 inches (about 350 mm) of rain fell across Chennai leading to significant flooding. About 6 inches (150 mm) fell from Wednesday into Thursday alone as the tropical depression moved onshore. Photos showed some pedestrians being forced to carry bikes through deep water on flooded roads around the city.
The heavy rain caused damage to about 1,300 houses across Tamil Nadu and inundated more than 100,000 acres of croplands, according to CNN.
In addition to all of the rain, strong winds halted landings at Chennai’s airport for nearly five hours on Thursday, but departures were still permitted. Wind gusts at the airport approached 50 mph (85 km/h).
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Due to the flooding and gusty winds, Sun News reported that 61,700 residents were without power on Thursday in Chennai. Posts on social media say power was out for more than 30 hours in some flooded areas.
Rainfall wound down in southern India on Friday, but scattered lighter rains will continue through the weekend, according to Nicholls.
However, AccuWeather meteorologists say residents should not let their guard down yet.
Conditions look favorable for another tropical depression to form across the Bay of Bengal this week and move into southeastern India by late in the week, according to Nicholls. This could bring another round of heavy rain, flooding and gusty winds to the region.
“This time of year is the second peak for tropical development in the northern Indian Ocean,” said Nicholls. “The northern Indian Ocean is different from other basins that typically only have one peak in tropical activity. The first peak in tropical activity across the northern Indian Ocean happens from April to June while the second peak is October to December.”
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