After a prolonged dry and hot spell, Chennai rains have finally returned and some relief from the ongoing hot weather conditions and water crisis is expected. In the last 24 hours from 08:30 am on Thursday, Chennai’s Meenambakkam Observatory recorded 29 mm of rain, whereas Nungambakkam saw trace of rain.
These rains have been attributed to the Low-Pressure Area in Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha Coast and a trough extending along the East Coast. Normally, during this time, Chennai city witnesses rains due to the effect of weather systems present in the Bay of Bengal and same is the situation currently.
Even though parts of the country are experiencing active Monsoon conditions but as Chennai city lies in the rain shadow area, rainfall activity is comparatively less in this region during the Southwest Monsoon season.
But now today and tomorrow i.e. on June 21 and 22, we expect patchy rain and thundershower activities to occur in parts of Chennai. Sky conditions over the city will remain mainly cloudy. Maximum temperatures of Chennai will settle near 40 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature will be around 30 degree Celsius.
Talking about the ongoing water crises in Chennai - is a result of successive failed Monsoon and pre-Monsoon seasons. The Northeast Monsoon 2018 ended with large rainfall deficiency to the tune of 44%, with Chennai being rain deficient by 50%. In fact, the pre-Monsoon season 2019 also ended with a rainfall deficiency of 25%. As a result, reservoir status is at record low.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Please Note: Any information picked from here must be attributed to skymetweather.com