Heavy rain lashes parts of TN, Puducherry

Moisture-rich easterly winds brought heavy rain to parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Thursday.

As the southwest monsoon is nearing withdrawal, the northeast monsoon is expected to set in soon.

Tamil Nadu received scattered rainfall due to the formation of a trough of a low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal.

"Conditions continue to remain favourable for the commencement of northeast monsoon over Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Kerala during the next 24 hours," said Deputy Director General of Meteorology Dr S Balachandran.

Nilgiris district received the maximum rainfall, 80 mm, during the last 24 hours followed by Cuddalore, 70 mm.

In 2016, the northeast monsoon hit the region on October 30, bringing one depression and three cyclones - Kyant, Nada and Vardah, that caused large-scale destruction in north Tamil Nadu.