Chennai continued to experience intense heat on Saturday, with the outskirts recording higher temperatures than the core city areas, despite the onset of the southwest monsoon over neighbouring Kerala. Nungambakkam registered 39.9°C, while Meenambakkam hit 40.4°C, both about 2.4 degrees above normal.
Relief on the Horizon
Meteorologists have indicated that relief from the scorching summer heat may be imminent. There is a possibility of rain or cloudy weather bringing down daytime temperatures during the coming week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall in Chennai and its suburbs on Sunday. Maximum temperatures are expected to drop by approximately one degree to 39-40°C, compared to the 40-41°C predicted for Saturday. Minimum temperatures are likely to remain warm, hovering around 29-30°C.
Heavy Rainfall in Western and Southern Districts
Districts along the Western Ghats and some southern districts are likely to receive heavy rainfall. However, Chennai has not experienced any thunderstorms so far, despite earlier forecasts, because the monsoon winds are not strong enough to push cloud bands from the west towards the east coast. This has prolonged the extreme summer heat, with temperatures at the city’s two observatories frequently nearing or exceeding 40°C this month.
“The southwesterlies are only around 20-30 kmph, which is not sufficient to push clouds from the west to the east. However, weather models show a circulation over south interior Karnataka shifting southwards, which may bring rainfall to north Tamil Nadu by Monday or Tuesday,” said V R Durai, director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD.
Intense Heat and Humidity
The heat remained intense throughout Saturday, with temperatures staying close to 39°C even before sunset. Humidity levels added to the discomfort, ranging from 60-79% in Nungambakkam and 51-53% in Meenambakkam.
June Rainfall Patterns
June is not a major rainfall month for Chennai. The city typically records an average of four rainy days and about 58.8mm of rainfall during the month. There are also instances when high-altitude clouds at 10-12km, pushed eastward by stronger southwesterlies, can reduce daytime temperatures even without producing rain.
Calling the recent weather pattern unusual, blogger Pradeep John noted that thunderstorms have repeatedly bypassed the city despite favourable conditions. On Friday, parts of north Chennai received around 3cm of rain, while most other areas remained hot and dry. “June is not a strong rainfall month for Chennai. But it is only a matter of time before we get some rain,” he said.
