Heavy rains in Chennai break 5-year record

Chennai recorded 67 mm of rainfall on 16 May - the second highest rainfall on a single day in May so far.

The Minambakkam Observatory in Chennai has recorded rainfall of 64 mm from 8:30 am on 16 May. The city has surpassed its monthly average rainfall - which stands at 43.9 mm.

According to Skymet Weather, Chennai has not received such heavy rainfall during the last five years. In fact, the last time the city received such heavy rain was in 2010 when 204 mm rainfall was recorded in 24 hours.

Some more records are expected to be broken in the next 24 hours.

These rains can be attributed to the well-marked low-pressure area lying over Sri Lanka and adjoining Gulf of Mannar and southwest Bay of Bengal. The system will likely move towards north Tamil Nadu coast and intensify into a depression by 18 May, according to the Meteorological Department.

The Skymet Meteorology Division in India has warned that the possibility of flooding cannot be ruled out. Heavy showers are expected in the next 24 hours.