Image used for representation | Photo credit: R. Ragu
The drought over Tamil Nadu may ease soon as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal has consolidated into a deep depression. It is likely to bring scattered rain, particularly in coastal areas of the state, for three days starting Friday (January 9, 2026). The Bay of Bengal has witnessed only 20 intense weather systems during January since 1891, making such events unusual during this time of year.
According to the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), the deep depression is located over the southwest Bay of Bengal and east of the Equatorial Ocean, about 810 km southeast of Karaikal and 980 km south-southeast of Chennai. It is likely to cross the Sri Lankan coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai on Friday afternoon/evening.
B. Amudha, chief (additional in-charge), RMC, said that while this is not the first time that the Bay has produced intense weather systems during January, such events are not frequent. The deep depression is likely to bring heavy rain to some parts as it moves along the southern Tamil Nadu coast.
The RMC has issued orange and yellow weather alerts, indicating the possibility of heavy rainfall of up to 20 cm in some districts. On Friday, rains would be limited to the delta districts and southern coastal Tamil Nadu. While Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam may receive heavy or very heavy rain, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Mayiladuthurai and Thanjavur are likely to receive heavy rain.
On Saturday (January 10), rain is possible in many coastal districts and some inland places, and may be heavy in the stretch between Chengalpattu and Ramanathapuram. While four districts including Cuddalore and Tiruvarur may receive heavy or very heavy rainfall, heavy rainfall is possible at isolated places in seven districts including Pudukottai, Chengalpattu and Ariyalur.
Why is this a rare event?
YEA Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai, noted that the prevailing system, which is expected to cross the coast of Sri Lanka, is analogous to the January 2023 depression that crossed the east coast of the island nation.
Eleven intense weather systems formed over the Bay of Bengal between 1961 and 2024, and most of them were short-lived. None of the weather systems crossed the Tamil Nadu coast. Only two January systems, in 1967 and 2005, intensified into cyclonic storms, he added.
Meanwhile, the RMC has forecast that frost is likely to occur in the higher areas of the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal hills on Friday.
Published – January 8, 2026 02:46 pm IST