With the unexpected downpour on Thursday that had waterlogged major areas of downtown, Chennai will likely be ending 2021 with heavy rainfall. The city was blanketed with rainy clouds since the morning hours of Thursday and the rainfall began with a drizzling phase and later, the downpour was extreme and incessant. Several areas of the city have recorded rainfall and have been experiencing major disruption as the sequel of the inundation. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Chennai for the next two days - December 31 and January 1, 2022. The weather watchdog has said that heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Mayiladuthurai districts on Friday- December 31. It has also predicted that heavy rainfall will occur at isolated places over Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Mayiladuthurai districts on Saturday - January 1, 2022. 

However, the IMD hasn't issued a warning for Chennai and said that the sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy and some areas of the city would record thunderstorms with light to moderate rain for the next two days. On the other hand, weather tracker Pradeep John has said that the rainfall was unprecedented with many areas like Nungambakkam, Mambalam, and MRC Nagar receiving over 100 mm in a short period. 

Downtown areas like T Nagar, Royapettah, and Alwarpet had also witnessed heavy downpours and Mylapore had recorded 200 mm of rain. The weather tracker has said that Chennai has broken its previous annual record of rainfall, which was recorded in 2015, which had brought floods and massive disruption to the city. Several Chennaiites have on Thursday taken to social media and shared the visuals of heavy rainfall at their respective areas. 

Several users had said that their areas had a swift inundation, that had again become a trouble for the residents and the heavy rainfall will be applying a big brake for the city from celebrating the New Year in their households and neighbourhoods. Pradeep John further said at around 7.15 pm on Thursday, "More clouds converging into South Chennai and rain is expected to continue further for few more hours. South Chennai - ECR belt which missed heavy spells might get balancing rains in coming hours. The old city area has got 150-200 mm. While other areas have got close to 100 mm."