Chennai and nearby districts in Tamil Nadu could soon be drenched in heavy to very heavy rains this weekend. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has alerted that a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal is gaining power and moving closer. This weather system is expected to grow into a depression by Thursday and may strengthen further. "It can strengthen up to the stage of deep depression," said B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge) of RMC. The system is likely to travel towards the coasts of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by Saturday. Good news for those waiting eagerly—heavy rains are forecast for south coastal and delta districts like Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur starting Thursday, with a yellow alert already in place. As the storm gears up, orange and yellow alerts are issued for Ariyalur, Cuddalore, and other delta areas on Friday. The rain could spread widely by Saturday. North Tamil Nadu might see intense rainfall, even up to 21 cm, on Saturday and Sunday. This includes places like Chennai, Perambalur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram. Officials hope this wet spell will help wipe out the rain shortage seen earlier in some districts. The Cyclone Senyar, which is near northeast Indonesia, will not affect Tamil Nadu, the RMC cleared the air. Instead, the focus remains on the local low-pressure system and its effects. The RMC is keeping a close eye on how the weather unfolds. Alerts may change if the system’s strength or path shifts, with clearer updates expected soon. Despite a long dry stretch this month, Tamil Nadu has managed a seasonal rainfall total of 34.8 cm since October 1—just above the average of 33.5 cm. Stay tuned for timely updates and prepare for some much-needed heavy rains to splash over Chennai and Tamil Nadu this weekend!