Satellite images of Cloud Cyclone Ditwah as of November 29, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.
Several southern coastal and delta areas experienced torrential downpour since Friday night as Cyclone Ditwah continued to approach the Tamil Nadu coast.
The Regional Meteorological Center has maintained its forecast of light to moderate rain in many parts of Tamil Nadu for Saturday. A red alert has been issued for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Puducherry in view of the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall.
In the last 24 hours till 8:30 am on Saturday, Kodiayakarai in Nagapattinam district received an extremely heavy 25 cm daily rainfall. Some other parts of the district including Vedaranyam (19 cm), Velankanni (13 cm), Tirupoondi and Nagapattinam also received heavy rainfall of 12 cm.
Districts including Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Thiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai also received moderate to heavy showers. A red alert was issued for Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts on Sunday.
The cyclone will move parallel to Tamil Nadu coast
According to the RMC, Cyclone Ditwah was moving north-northwest and centered over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining northern Sri Lanka at 5:30 am on Saturday, about 190 km south-southeast of Karaikal, 300 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 400 km south of Chennai
Cyclone Ditwah is now moving at a speed of 8 km/h until Saturday morning, compared to a previous speed of 7 km/h. It is very likely to continue its north-northwestward movement and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh by early Sunday morning.
The cyclone is likely to maintain its projected track and move parallel to the TN coast through Sunday, losing intensity to an equally deep depression Sunday night as it approaches the northern TN coast.
In its tropical cyclone warning, the IMD noted that the cyclone is currently supported by inflow of warm moist air, favorable outflow and environmental conditions that allow it to maintain its intensity and may intensify slightly as it moves over the sea. However, as it moves northwards towards the TN-AP coast, it will face strong wind shear and intrusion of cold dry air, causing the system to weaken after November 30.
Orange alert for 14 districts
The RMC is maintaining orange alert for 14 districts including Chennai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem and yellow alert for Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Namakkal and Karur districts on Saturday.
In its current broadcast, the RMC has predicted light to moderate rainfall over Cuddalore, Dindigul, Mayiladuthurai, Madurai, Nagappattinam, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thoothukudi, Kanniykuipuramruval districts and Puducherry, Karaikal region till 1 pm.
Water release from Chennai reservoirs has increased
Meanwhile, the release of water from major reservoirs in Chennai was increased at 6 am on Saturday in view of the forecast of heavy rainfall. The discharge from Poondi reservoir has been increased to 2,500 cusecs, from Cholavaram to 400 cusecs, from Chembarambakkam to 1,200 cusecs and from Red Hills to 1,000 cusecs.
Published – 29 Nov 2025 11:26 IST
