Palayan Anna says, "the sea has changed over the last 3 days. On 14 Oct, the currents and wind changed directions. From March to Oct 14, the wind was blowing from the south and southwest and the shoreline current flowed south to North such northbound currents that flow from
south to north are called Thenni vellam (vellam means water flow or current or flood in a particular direction). On October 14, the wind reversed. It began blowing from the Northeast -- check it out next time you go to the beach.
The shoreline current also reversed -- it now flows from North to the south and is called vanni (vadakku to therkku). This does not yet represent the onset of the conditions typical of the Northeast monsoon even though the wind and shoreline currents are in order.
one more thing needs to happen. The prevailing condition where the waters are flowing from the east to west (Memeni) has to reverse, and the deeper, cooler waters from the deeper portions of the Bay of Bengal has to start pushing shorewards (Olni).
Memeni vellam has to reverse and Olni vellam has to set. This is expected in the next few days, if it hasn't already happened. When this happens, you can experience far cooler waters in the nearshore and the sea becomes crystal clear, and plain and waveless like a sheet of glass.
Of course, the days of rain through cyclonic storms or deep depressions cannot be counted. On other days, we will have still and clear waters. A great time to explore our seas and peer into the ocean bottoms. @NityJayaraman #PorombokeLecFest #ChennaiKalaiTheruVizha
