Tiruchirapalli finally ended its long spell of dry weather with 76.5 mm of rain being observed in a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Monday. This has been the first spell of heavy rain - more than the monthly average of 70.1 mm - in the city in almost 40 days. Between 8th July and 18th August Trichy had recorded an abysmal 5 mm of rain.
Such heavy spells occur occasionally during the Southwest Monsoon season which is evident from the fact that the city had recorded 156 mm of rain – all-time high - on 27th August, 2008.
It is to be noted that Trichy being in Tamil Nadu falls in the rain shadow area and does not receive much rain during the Southwest Monsoon season due to which its average monthly rainfall for the months of June, July and August is low.
The city observes its bulk of rain during the Northeast Monsoon season with average rain in September recording 187 mm (retreating Monsoon), October 142 mm and November 150 mm. It reduces and settles at 89 mm in December, which is the withdrawal time for the Northeast Monsoon.
Absence of rain had lead to a constant rise in temperatures in the city. The maximums had frequently been exceeding 38oC against the monthly average of 35.8oC. Almost 13 days in August the maximums have exceeded 38oC, with highest recording 39oC, on 16th August. During Monday too, when the city observed rain the maximum settled at 38.3oC, which is 3 degrees above normal. Probably the excess heat triggered rain in Trichy. The minimum had settled at 22oC on Tuesday morning, about 4 degrees below normal.
