Cyclone Murasu to Influence Rainfall Over Coimbatore and Nilgiris

Coimbatore: The water level at Siruvani Dam has risen to 40.02 feet, bringing it closer to the operational restriction level of 44.61 feet, amid rainfall in the catchment areas and forecasts of further showers over the coming days.

According to the latest water storage report dated November 2, the dam has a useful storage of 452.80 million cubic feet (MCFT), against its recorded depth capacity of 49.53 feet. The Siruvani catchment area at Adivaram received 12 mm of rainfall, while no rain was recorded at the dam site.

The Coimbatore district rainfall report for the 24-hour period ending at 7.30 am on November 2 recorded a total of 35.60 mm, with an average rainfall of 1.55 mm. Pillur Dam recorded the highest rainfall at 22 mm, followed by Siruvani Adivaram at 12 mm and Coimbatore South at 1.60 mm.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Murasu has intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal and is moving towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast. The system is expected to cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur late on November 2 or in the early hours of November 3, with its movement influencing rainfall activity across Tamil Nadu.

According to the latest weather bulletin, for the 24-hour period from 8.30 am on November 2, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur, while heavy rainfall is forecast in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely at a few places across the remaining northern Tamil Nadu and Western Ghats districts, including Coimbatore.

For November 3, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the Nilgiris, while moderate rainfall is expected at isolated places across northern Tamil Nadu and the Western Ghats districts. With the cyclone influencing weather conditions over the region, further rainfall in the Western Ghats could bring additional inflow into the Siruvani catchment and lead to a rise in the reservoir's water level.