NASA measures India’s deadly flooding rains

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November 17, 2015 by Rob Gutro

An analysis of rainfall data from Nov. 9 to 16, 2015 showed up to 550 mm (21.7 inches) of rain drenched India’s southeastern coast in the state of Tamil Nadu. Over 200 mm (7.9 inches) fell in large areas of southeastern India and northern Sri Lanka. Credit: NASA/JAXA/Hal Pierce

 

During the past week extreme rainfall from two slow moving tropical low pressure areas caused severe flooding in southeastern India. One of the lows, designated System 97B continued to linger along the southeastern Indian coast on November 17. As System 97B and another low pressure area dropped heavy rainfall, NASA and partners around the world gathered data using an array of satellites.

The flooding has caused as many as 70 reported deaths. The city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu were hit exceptionally hard, as 59 people were reported killed there.