Chennai, Nov 20
Heavy rain continued to lash southern Tamil Nadu, prompting the district collectors of Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Karaikal to declare a holiday for schools on Wednesday.
The decision applies to all government and private schools in these districts. In Ramanathapuram, the district collector has also announced a holiday for colleges due to the heavy rainfall.
The Virudhunagar district collector has authorised individual school heads to decide on closures as widespread rainfall has affected the area since morning.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has also forecast heavy rainfall in northern coastal districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram, from November 22.
These districts are expected to experience above-normal rainfall from November 22 to 28, while the rest of the state is likely to receive normal to below-normal rainfall during this period.
Tamil Nadu has received 276 mm rainfall during the Northeast Monsoon from October 1 to November 15.
Coimbatore registered the highest rainfall at 418 mm, which is 67 per cent above normal. While 17 districts, including Chennai, experienced excess rainfall, others reported a deficit.
With substantial rainfall since the onset of the monsoon on October 17, nearly 90 reservoirs across the state are over 60 per cent full.