Chennai, India, Flood Threat Continues After City Records Wettest December Day in Over 100 Years

Chennai, India, Flood Threat Continues After City Records Wettest December Day in Over 100 Years

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

December 3, 2015; 9:10 AM ET

Daily downpours threaten to worsen the already severe flooding situation around Chennai, India, into early next week after the city endured its wettest December day in more than 100 years of record-keeping.
Rainfall from both a weak tropical low and moisture from the Bay of Bengal will continue put southern India at risk for new and worsening flooding problems into early next week.

‘Worst Rain in 100 Years' Batters Chennai, India

The low will cause the most numerous and heaviest rainfalla to be focused across the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu to far southern Kerala into Saturday. While the highest rainfall totals during this time will likely be recorded south of Chennai, the city faces additional rainfall and flooding downpours.
The low will move away after Saturday, but tropical moisture will keep streaming inland and lead to more drenching showers and thunderstorms.

New flooding problems may develop in eastern Tamil Nadu and far southern Kerala with additional rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) expected through Sunday.
Locally higher amounts are possible and some communities, such as Chidambaram and Tirunelveli, could receive most of that rain on either Friday or Saturday alone.

Rain-weary southern India is definitely in need of a persistent dry spell, following the wettest November in more than 20 years for some areas.
While November and December are typically wet across Tamil Nadu, this year was exceptional.
Rainfall has been relentless across southern India since early November, resulting in multiple events of flooding from Chennai to Kochi.
For the month of November, Chennai has reported 1,024 mm (40.31 inches) of rain, more than 300 percent of the normal rainfall that is expected for the entire month.
Indians help a man carry his two-wheeler on a cycle cart as they wade through a waterlogged subway in Chennai, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.)
December continued this wet pattern as more than 300 mm (12 inches) of rain fell in Chennai on the first day of the month. This is the wettest December day in more than 100 years of records in Chennai.
This most recent rainfall has resulted in closure of Chennai's airport along with widespread road closures and power outages according to the Associated Press.
At least 269 people have died from flooding in Tamil Nadu since November. Drowning, electrocution and wall collapses have accounted for most of the deaths in the last month.
The airport is likely to remain closed until Sunday. The Adyar River runs underneath a runway and flooding along the river could worsen with more rain.
The Indian Army and Navy have been assisting with rescue and relief operations along with the Indian Red Cross Society.
A similar weather pattern in November 1997 resulted in more than 760 mm (30 inches) in Chennai but still fell well short of the recent torrential rainfall.
December 1997 brought continued heavy rainfall to southern India and Chennai during the first half of the month, and this pattern looks very similar to what is expected this December.
Residents and their goats are rescued by Indian army soldiers from a residential area flooded following heavy rains in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Incessant rains that lashed the city since Saturday night flooded several parts of Chennai. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)
Continuing surges of moisture from the Bay of Bengal will fuel scattered to widespread rainfall into next week.
However, later next week, the frequency of downpours will lessen around Chennai as a storm system shifts the focus of heavy rain and potential flooding to northern and central India, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.
"After that, the heavy rain threat should be over for this winter around Chennai," said Nicholls.
Drier weather is expected to finally return to far southern India before the end of the month, and this will likely continue into January as southern India enters the dry season.
A view of a residential area flooded following heavy rain in Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. Incessant rain that lashed the city since Saturday night flooded several parts of Chennai. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski contributed to the content of this story.