Overview

• India Meteorological Department said on October 16 that the Southwest monsoon has withdrawn from the entire country and the Northeast monsoon has begun over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry–Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Kerala–Mahe.
• RMC Chennai issued an orange alert for Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Ramanathapuram, with heavy rain forecast for over 20 other districts including Chennai; waterlogging and a swollen Nambiyar river led to school closures in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi.
• Kerala reported the onset of the Northeast monsoon with widespread rain; an orange alert was issued for Kottayam and Idukki and seven more districts were placed on yellow alert for heavy rainfall.
• Maharashtra remained under yellow alerts across several districts for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 km/h, and IMD Mumbai issued an evening nowcast yellow warning as parts of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai saw light to moderate rain and thunderstorms.
• IMD forecast widespread showers over the south peninsula through October 16–21 with squally coastal winds up to 55 km/h, and said low‑pressure areas are likely to form around October 19 over the Bay of Bengal and over the southeast Arabian Sea/Lakshadweep, which could enhance rainfall.