Chennai may face extreme high/low temperatures

CHENNAI: The city is likely to face several extreme weather events including unseasonal rain in the coming years, say researchers from Anna University who have found high variations in this year’s maximum, minimum and the diurnal (the difference between maximum and minimum temperature on the same day) in comparison to last decade’s average.

A study of the weather data from 2011 to 2022, showed that the maximum and minimum temperature have either increased or dipped the most in the last four months when compared to the fluctuations found for decadal average. The reason: Influence of El Nino, and other climate change impacts.

Last week of January till February 8, the decadal average of minimum temperature rang ed between 21 to 22. But, in 2023 it was ranging from 24 to 27. The decadal average temperature in the first week of May month is around 37. In 2023, it varied below average ranging from 3 1 to 33. On March 24, decadal average was 35. But in 2023, it was 32 degree.

This variation in temperature, the researchers in Anna University said, has been highest thisyear and the fluctuation will continue in the coming years.
People may have to brace for more extreme highs and lows in temperatures, unusual rain, untimely drought, health impacts and biodiversity loss if the fluctuations continue, said A Ramachandran, professor at Anna University’s Centre for Climate Changeand Disaster Management. The climate studio set up under the university’s department of environment has 20 scientists studying decadal data of rainfall, and temperatures.
Explaining the tre nd, Ramachandran said the temperature dip was as low as 22 degrees C in February and sudden rise as high as 38. 5 degrees C for about five to seven days in April.
“It is evident that health and ecosystem stress will be more,” he said. The centre is trying to create models that will help predict weather extremes in the coming years. Supriya Sahu,additional chief secretary of department of environment and climate change said, they have already begun taking this data seriously and announced the Tamil Nadu coastal restoration mission for which the state has allocated 2,000 crore. “Under this, 14 coastal districts including Chennai will see several infrastructural and scientific interventions,” she said.