High temperature likely to sap Chennai for next 2 days

CHENNAI: Residents in most parts of the city were left to sweat through the day on Thursday as temperatures rose while a few areas experienced cloudy weather.
People in some suburbs even enjoyed light rain due to the convergence of winds resulting in convection. IMD said there are chances of rainfall as well as high temperatures for the next two days. Bloggers said the present weather condition may continue for at least a week to 10 days as temperatures may further rise by June.
On Thursday, while Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 38.3°C and 39.1°C, which were 0.5 and 0.2 above normal, a few suburban areas and neighbouring districts were treated to light spells. West Tambaram registered 31.5mm, Taramani 5mm, RK Pet 40mm and Kanchipuram 35mm. Meenambakkam recorded traces of rainfall.
IMD officials said westerlies were converging with moisture-laden seabreeze causing convection and a lower level circulation was enhancing the convective activity bringing rainfall. “There is a circulation at 1.5km altitude. It may be there for another two or three days,” said P Senthamarai Kannan, director, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD Chennai.
For the next 48 hours, IMD has forecast thunderstorms with light to moderate rainfall over some areas in the city and the suburbs with sky conditions to be partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 38°C and 29°C.
Bloggers observed that on Thursday the rain clouds over the suburbs and neighbouring districts were not moving over the city due to lack of strong steering winds. This led to some parts of the city experiencing high temperatures followed by cloudy skies in the afternoon.
“Models are showing the convergence may be closer to the city on Friday. So there are chances of some city areas receiving rainfall. Otherwise, temperatures will be around 38 or 39 degrees for at least 10 days,” said blogger Pradeep John.