Overview
- The Regional Meteorological Centre reported a well‑marked low over the southwest Bay of Bengal on Tuesday with a west‑northwest track toward the north Tamil Nadu–south Andhra coast and likely intensification into a depression within 24–48 hours.
- Orange and yellow alerts were issued across coastal and delta districts, with Chennai and neighboring districts placed under upgraded warnings for heavy to very heavy rain through October 24.
- Chennai saw severe waterlogging and transport disruption on Diwali, including flooded airport runways, with showers persisting into Tuesday across parts of the city and suburbs.
- Kerala shifted from widespread yellow alerts to orange warnings in several districts, with authorities warning of landslides and confirming at least one rain‑related death in Idukki since Sunday.
- Officials stepped up readiness by increasing discharge from Chennai’s Red Hills reservoir to 500 cusecs, advising fishermen to stay ashore due to 35–55 kmph winds and rough seas, and issuing a flood alert in Madurai as the Vaigai River rose.