Capital city Chennai breached the 40°C mark for the second consecutive day, yesterday. Airport observatory Meenambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 40°C on Thursday and 40.7°C, a day prior on 01st May 2024. This is the first 40°C of this season and above normal by about 3°C. The city is just short of heatwave conditions but the weather is terribly stingy and sultry. The regional observatory at Nungambakkam was a shade better with a high of 39°C on 01st May and around 38°C, yesterday. Coastal stations undergo heat wave conditions on reaching a high of 37°C when the departure from normal is more than 4°C.
The state of Tamil Nadu has a large deficit of pre-monsoon rainfall, in excess of 80%. Capital city Chennai has remained completely dry and is 100% deficit, this season. In the absence of rains, Chennai has recorded above-normal temperatures, persistently. Coupled with high humidity, oppressive heat and sticky conditions have prevailed, along the coast in general and for the capital city, in particular. There is hope of breaking the jinx of dry spell, early next week.
Pre-Monsoon trough across the interiors of Peninsular India is becoming active. Isolated activity has already commenced over some parts. The trough is likely to oscillate, east and west, over the next few days. This will be closer to the coastline between 06th and 10th May 2024. Also, a southerly stream of winds from the southwest Bay of Bengal, all along the coastline will feed plenty of moisture. Under the combined influence of these systems, pre-monsoon showers are likely, at the start of next week. Rain and thundershowers are expected over the city and suburbs between the 06th and 10th of May. The intensity and the spread could be large on 07th and 08th May.
Pre-monsoon showers will provide relief, from the searing heat for most parts of the state. The spell could be a boon for the water bodies, as well. Most of the weather activity will happen late in the day and early at night. Exercise caution for some lightning strikes and gusty winds, more so, for the northern parts and interiors of the state.
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