Wet spell to wind up by November 8

CHENNAI :Despite witnessing harsh rains, Friday mar-ked the fading of the first spells of rains this monsoon, said Met officials, adding th-at dry weather is expected over Tamil Nadu from Tuesday next.Caused by a trough of low pressure off the east coast, Thursday and Friday have seen rains in most parts of Tamil Nadu, coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep and Rayalseema. Until Friday morning, Aravakurichi in Karur district recorded the state’s highest rainfall of 13 cm, while Chennai received 5 cm in the city, and 3.2 cm in the airport region.“The trough off the east coast, though not well-marked, caused rainfall across the peninsula on Friday. The low pressure area over the Arabian Sea has moved towards the Oman coast, and does not have a bearing in the rains here,” said a senior Met official. Rains would subside after Tuesday, he added.Even as the city reeled from the after-effects of Thursday’s incessant rains, Friday came as another bolt for the office-goers, as a continuous spell of heavy rains lashed the city during the peak hours. “The rain has made it impossible for us to reach a bus-stop to catch a bus. Roads are flooded and we are not sure where the roads are pot-holed. So I had to take an auto to work, whi-ch cost me double,” said She-ela, an IT employee.Inundation was reported in Tondiarpet, Thiruvottriyur, Perambur Barracks Ro-ad, Purasawalkkam, Otteri, Ambattur near Telephone Exchange, Mogappair, Triplicane, Harrington Road and Vepery High Road.