Chennai’s monthly mean average for the month of May is 36.8°C, but so far in May 2015, the average temperature has been recorded at 35.6°C. A deviation of more than 1°C has been experienced in the city. Since last two to three days, the day temperature in Chennai has fallen below normal by as much as 4 to 5°C. The reason behind this fall in temperature is continuous rain over entire Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, over the last four days.
A cyclonic circulation off south Tamil Nadu, combined with wind discontinuity running from Central India to interior Tamil Nadu, has been inducing cloud formation over the region. This has led to fairly widespread rainfall activity in the southern peninsula. In the last 10 years, in the month of May, rainfall in Chennai has not crossed the normal mark of 43.9 mm. But back in 2010, Chennai received 204 mm rainfall in the month of May, with more than 109 mm rain recorded in a single day. This year, so far, the city has received 12.3 mm rainfall in May with a major chunk of rainfall received during the last four days.
Chennai is expected to receive rainfall up to May 18 which will get the recorded rainfall figure closer to the monthly normal. Till then, temperatures in the city will continue to settle below normal. A gradual rise in temperature is anticipated thereafter, but the maximum is not expected to cross the normal mark before May 21.
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