CHENNAI: After Chennai and its suburbs recorded temperatures below the monthly normal of 35°C on poll day, weathermen have some good news. The incoming easterly wind is likely to keep day temperatures around normal for the rest of the week. Meteorologists said temperatures will drop in interior parts of Tamil Nadu from Wednesday as the southeasterly winds are strong enough to move deep into the land.
For the next 48 hours, temperatures in the city and the suburbs are likely to hover at a maximum of 36°C and a minimum of 28°C. The average temperature in the city for April is 34.5°C.
On Tuesday, the city recorded 34°C in Nungambakkam and 34.8°C in Meenambakkam, which were 0.1°C and 0.4°C below normal. The normal maximum temperatures for the two stations are 34.1°C and 35.2°C.
"The easterlies are strong. It's not like a sea breeze, which moves in during a particular time of the day following calm winds. The easterly winds are prevailing winds lasting through day and night. This will bring down maximum temperatures throughout this week," said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD. "Only if there is a system over Bay of Bengal, wind directions may change and coastal cities like Chennai may get inland winds which will lead to rise in temperatures. Otherwise, the present weather may prevail through the week," he added.
In the last 10 years, the highest maximum temperatures in the city for April were between 36.2°C and 39.7°C except in 2016 when Chennai registered a maximum of 40.8°C on April 23.
The IMD official said temperatures in interior districts like Trichy, Madurai and Karur, which had been recording high day temperatures, will also drop from Wednesday as southeasterly winds will move deep into the land.
On Tuesday, Karur recorded 41.5°C, Madurai airport registered 37.8°C and Trichy 37.5°C, which were two to three degrees above normal. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms at isolated places over Tamil Nadu on April 9 and 10, which officials said would be mostly in parts of interior districts.