City may receive light to moderate rain: IMD

Chennai: The surprise showers on Tuesday night brought relief from the summer heat, ending a prolonged dry spell across the city and suburbs. The IMD has forecast more light to moderate rainfall on Thursday, which may further ease daytime temperatures to 38-39°C.

“On Thursday, the city and the suburbs may receive light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning during the evening or night hours. Partly cloudy skies may keep temperatures at a maximum of 38-39°C and a minimum of 29-30°C,” an IMD bulletin said.

Tuesday’s showers brought a slight dip in temperatures on Wednesday, though they remained above normal. Nungambakkam recorded 39°C, around 2 degrees above normal, while Meenambakkam recorded 39.2°C, around 1.9 degrees above normal.

The late evening spells on Tuesday over several central neighbourhoods came after more than 40 days of largely dry weather and persistent summer heat and humidity. Earlier in the day, both city observatories had crossed the 40°C mark before thunderstorms developed.

Meteorologists said rainfall during the southwest monsoon season is usually scattered over the city, which lies in the monsoon rain-shadow region. Showers are often triggered by moisture transported by southwesterly winds, local daytime heating and interactions between sea-breeze and inland winds. During weak or break-monsoon phases, convergence between easterlies from the Bay of Bengal and westerlies can further enhance thunderstorm activity.

“It may not rain every day, but the chances of rainfall over Chennai and surrounding areas remain high over the next couple of days,” an official said.