CHENNAI: As a much-needed respite from the sweltering heat, there were cloudy skies and spells of drizzle on Saturday, which reduced the temperatures across the city. Similar weather is expected to prevail on Sunday, with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) forecasting light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning.
Prepare for gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph at one or two places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until July 21 (Tuesday), it stated.
Explaining the prevailing synoptic conditions, VR Durai, head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said, “Upper-air cyclonic circulations persist over the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining south TN , and over north Kerala and adjoining areas, between 5.8 km and 7.6 km above mean sea level. These weather systems are expected to trigger light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and lightning over Chennai on Sunday.”
Despite the change in weather, Madurai airport recorded the State’s highest maximum temperature at 40.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, while the lowest in the hill regions was registered in Ooty with 10.2 degrees Celsius. In Chennai, Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 34 degrees and Meenambakkam had 35 degrees.
The weather department said that maximum temperatures were likely to remain near normal over coastal TN, Puducherry and Karaikal until July 22 (Wednesday). However, it could also remain 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal in a few pockets of the interior districts during the same period.
The RMC also forecasted light to moderate rain at isolated places over the Western Ghats districts, north coastal TN, Puducherry and Karaikal on July 23 and 24.