Schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts are closed today as heavy rainfall is expected until Wednesday.

According to India Meteorological Department, Heavy rain is likely at isolated places over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Tamilnadu and Puducherry on November 13.

The low-pressure area brought a big surprise on Sunday with rain eluding the capital city during the day. Though heavy rainfall was forecast, rain-bearing clouds failed to reach overland. Rain fell off the coast a few kilometres inside the sea. Weather models indicate that the city may receive multiple brief spells of rainfall till Wednesday.

The rain picked up on Sunday night at Nungambakkam weather station getting 50 mm after 8 pm.

S Balachandran, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said the wind had weakened and changed direction. “Most of the rain fell into the sea, reducing the intensity on land,” he said adding that the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal had not fully dispersed. Moderate showers are expected in many parts of North coastal TN and Puducherry until Wednesday. Light showers or thundershower will persist in isolated pockets over North and South interior of State for the next three days.

Currently, the low-pressure area is located over Southwest Bay of Bengal adjoining Sri Lanka and neighbourhood with associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and is likely to become more marked during next 48 hours. The sky condition is likely to remain cloudy in Chennai and maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 28 and 24 deg Celsius respectively.