Chennai, Oct 13 (Reporter) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) on Sunday issued a Red Alert for Chennai and its neighbouring districts on October 16 as the Northeast Monsoon rainfall activity is likely to commence over south eastern peninsular India, including Tamil Nadu, in the next two days. The IMD on Sunday said the Northeast Monsoon will commence around October 15-16 with the two systems over the Bay is likely to intensify, promising heavy rains. RMD Director S.Balachandran told reporters here this evening that heavy to very heavy rain is likely for next five days and an Orange and Red alerts has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday. A Low Pressure area is likely to form over central parts of south Bay of Bengal tomorrow (October 14) and heavy rains has been predicted and an Orange alert has been issued for Chennai, its neighbouring and Interior districts on October 15. The system is likely to move towards North Tamil Nadu and a Red Alert has been issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram districts of Tamil Nadu predicting extremely heavy rain, in excess of 20 cms on October 16. The orange alert for Tuesday was issued for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore districs predicting very heavy rainfall and heavy rain forecast for Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Erode, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai districts. Fishermen were advised not to venture in the sea till October 17 as the sea conditions would be rough and gusty winds, with speed ranging 55 to 60 kmph is likely especially on Tuesday and Wednesday. The State government, which had been holding periodic review meetings, has geared up its machinery to face the heavy Northeast Monsoon rains. Since Chennai is expected to receive more than 20 cms of rain, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin today inspected the precautionary arrangements put in place, including deployment of NDRF and SDRF personnel, who were kept in a state of readiness to meet any exigency. Mr Udhayanidhi announced that helplines were opened and the Modern Control Room here will function round the clock with 150 staff in four shifts. A total of 13,000 NGO volunteers are also in a state of preparedness to assist the government Stating the safeguarding the lives of the people and their property was the main priority of the ruling DMK, he said using various weather samples all the areas, which were prone to flood, were being monitored continuously and necessary instructions were given to the Electricity, Revenue, Police and Fire services and other departments. Relief Centres with all basic amenities were also readied to house people evacuated from low-lying areas. Meanwhile, the IMD said conditions are favourable for further withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon from remaining parts of the country and north Bay of Bengal during the next two days. Simultaneously with the setting in of easterly and northeasterly winds over southern peninsular India, south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, the Northeast Monsoon rainfall activity is like to commence during the same period. The Well Marked Low pressure area over eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Arabian sea persisted over the same region at 0830 hours of today. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a Depression over central Arabian Sea during next 12 hours. The upper air cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal now lies over north interior Tamil Nadu in lower tropospheric levels tilting southwestward with height. A trough runs from centre of the Well Marked Low pressure area over eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Arabian sea to Comorin area across south Kerala and the cyclonic circulation over Tamil Nadu in low to mid tropospheric levels. The cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean moved westnorthwestwards and lay over southeast Bay of Bengal and extending upto 5.8 km above mean sea level at 0830 hours today. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over central parts of south Bay of Bengal tomorrow. It is likely to become Well marked low pressure area and move westnorthwestwards towards North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during subsequent 48 hours. Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till October 17...////...