Chennai: The weather department has forecasted heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over the next 24 hours, thanks to the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.

An unusually dry weather had been prevailing all over the state, except a few districts, and in Puducherry for the past two weeks, with a very disappointing southwest monsoon. But, a well-defined low pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal, under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulations in the region.

According to a senior met official, the low pressure area could bring heavy rains during the next 24 hours. “Heavy rain is expected to lash Tamil Nadu during the period,” he said.

With Tamil Nadu lying on the rain shadow region, on the eastern (leeward side) side of the Western Ghats, the state receives the maximum rainfall when the southwest monsoon starts retrieving from the extreme northwest, towards the end of this month.

The official predicts more rains in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the last few days of this monsoon season.