Thunderstorms, rain likely for two days in Chennai

CHENNAI: The city received its first widespread rainfall this year on Sunday night, with Nungambakkam recording 8cm, the highest 24-hour rainfall in the month of June at least in the last 10 years.
Weathermen said it was only the start of the thunderstorm season in the city and the suburbs. IMD has forecast thunderstorms for the next two days. Private forecasters and bloggers said global weather models have forecast rainfall almost every day till the end of this month in the city and the suburbs.
On Sunday night, many city areas received intense rainfall. This includes 13cm recorded in West Tambaram, 11cm in Taramani and Korattur, and 9cm in Tambaram, Meenambakkam, Alandur, Anna University and DGP office. The rainfall continued on Monday; Nungambakkam recorded 14mm and Meenambakkam 1mm till 7.30pm.
Meteorologists attributed the rain to the westerlies which have picked up speed in the atmosphere from the surface to the mid-level. These winds are pushing thunderstorms or rain clouds forming over the interior areas towards the coast. As the clouds move, it picks up more moisture along the way.
For the next 48 hours, IMD has forecast thunderstorms with light to moderate rain in some areas in the city and the suburbs as skies remain partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperature may hover at 35°C and 26-27°C. “There is a lower level circulation over south Andhra Pradesh,” an IMD official said, which may support the rain activity over the city and the suburbs.
Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist, Skymet Weather said 8cm in Nungambakkam was the highest 24-hour rainfall for the month of June at least in the last 20 years. “There was a feeble trough over south coastal AP and north TN which supported convective activity leading to intense rain. In the coming days, we can expect isolated rain in the evening or at night. It may not be as intense as Sunday night spells,” he said.
Global weather models like ECMWF or European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts show rainfall possibilities for the city till June 29. “It is not raining much over Kerala and the westerlies that steer the thunderstorms towards the city have now become strong. We can expect rainfall almost every day,” he said.