Rain in Tamil Nadu: Schools in Chennai, four other districts declare holidays

Rainwater stagnated at Anna Salai and Woods Road in Chennai after overnight heavy rain. | Photo credit: Ragu R.

Schools in five districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, will remain closed on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) due to heavy rain, according to district authorities.

Collectors of Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts declared school holidays while a similar order was issued in Ranipet district due to rain.

According to data from the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), several places in and around Chennai received heavy rainfall till Wednesday (October 21, 6:00 am) morning. Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam weather stations recorded 12 cm and 11 cm of rainfall respectively, followed by Taramani (10 cm), Madhavaram (9 cm), Villivakkam and Nandanam (8 cm). Various other districts including Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Ramanathapuram Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari also received rainfall.

According to the latest weather update, light to moderate rainfall is likely to continue at isolated places in several parts of the state till 10 am on Wednesday (October 21).

The districts likely to receive rainfall include Chennai, Tiruvallur, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelakumari and Kannilyakumari.

A new system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to hold off heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu till October 26, the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) said.

It has issued orange warnings for several southern districts, including Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, as heavy to very heavy rainfall of up to 20 cm is possible on Wednesday (October 21) and Thursday (October 22).

Published – 21 Oct 2026 07:13 IST