Tamil Nadu is in thick of the pre-monsoon season. The state has been lashed by good showers for the last few days due to simultaneous or individual occurrence of the following two weather systems:
A. Discontinuity - Discontinuity arises due to rising temperatures and is mostly seen in the interiors of the Peninsula.
B. Easterly wave – At present, easterly winds are over Tamil Nadu and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal.
The easterly wave has brought fairly widespread rain in the interiors and along the coast of Tamil Nadu in the last 48 hours.
In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Wednesday, Chennai received 103 mm of rain, Madurai 63 mm, Periyakulam 100 mm, Vedasandur 37 mm, Kanchipuram 32 mm, Valparai 31 mm, Pamban 26 mm and Tirunelveli 24 mm. Coimbatore and Salem in the interiors of the state received 16 mm and 14 mm, respectively.
Rain will continue in the state for another 24 hours and start reducing thereafter. In wake of heavy showers, temperatures plummeted by 10°C for a while in several places. Maximum settled 5°C below normal at 29°C in Chennai on Wednesday. The mercury will not rise immediately and is expected to remain below normal by 4-5°C for another 24 hours, in most parts of the state.
photo credit - K.V.Srinivasan
