Rain returned to parts of Tamil Nadu on Friday, January 23, due to a trough in the easterlies. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) issued a yellow alert for north coastal and nearby districts on Saturday, January 24. There is a chance of isolated heavy rainfall, especially along the coast from Tiruvallur to Cuddalore. Parts of seven districts—including Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, and Villupuram—could receive up to 11.5 cm of rain. The RMC withdrew its earlier forecast of heavy rain for some interior districts on Sunday because the weather pattern changed. Coastal places like Chennai had light rain on Friday. This wet spell and cloudy skies offer a short break from cold weather in several parts of the state. On Friday morning, Namakkal and Tirupattur recorded the lowest temperature in the plains at 15.6°C. In hilly areas, Kodaikanal and Udhagamandalam saw the coldest temperature at 5.4°C. According to the RMC, the rain that started in isolated coastal spots on Friday may spread inland during the weekend. RMC officials said wet weather will continue till January 26, with light to moderate rain in many areas. Dry weather is expected by January 27. V.R. Durai, Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre at RMC, explained, "An easterly wave – an east-west moving weather disturbance – is moving across the State and is expected to bring rainfall." The RMC revised its Sunday forecast due to the fast-moving system. He added: "Easterly wave typically influences weather over the State during Northeast monsoon until December. However, with the monsoon increasingly spilling over to January in recent years, such weather systems are now being observed in January as well."