Heatwave to continue in the city till Thursday

Chennai and its suburbs sizzle as temperature peaks above 40 degree Celsius

It has been over two weeks since peak summer season — also known as ‘Agni Natchathiram’ — ended. But Chennai continues to be in the firm grip of a heatwave. The Meteorological Department has forecast that several parts of north Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, would experience relentless heat till Thursday.

For the third day in a row, Chennai and its suburbs sizzled as the temperature peaked above 40 degree Celsius. On Monday, both the weather stations at Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 41.5 degree Celsius. The Meteorological Department has advised people not to expose themselves to direct sunlight between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In the past decade, Chennai experienced the hottest day on June 3, 2012, when the temperature touched 42.4 degree Celsius.

Met officials said several parts of north Tamil Nadu, including Vellore, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Pudukottai and Karur, would have to endure a spike in temperature, and hot and dry winds would prevail in the region.

N. Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai, said southwest monsoon had advanced in the region and a depression over southeast Arabian sea was expected to become a cyclonic storm by Tuesday. This weather system had steered moisture towards the sea. “We are getting warm air from inland and there is not enough sea breeze. Strong westerlies have retained the intense heat in the region,” he said.

Kerala rains

Some places in the Western Ghats region, including Coimbatore, Erode, Dindigul, Tiruppur, Salem and Tirunelveli, may get light to moderate rains for the next two days. There will be a dip in day temperature in northern parts, including Chennai, in four or five days.

“If Kerala begins to get more rains, parts of Tamil Nadu will have a respite from the heat,” he said.

The Meteorological Department forecast that the maximum temperature in Chennai would hover around 40 degree Celsius till Wednesday.

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