Warm weather is here to stay for at least two or three more days, with the southwest monsoon remaining subdued.
After the recent spate of showers that cheered residents, the sun has been shining brightly for the past few days.
On Saturday, the weather observatory in Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 36 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal. Meenambakkam registered 35.4 degree Celsius, which is one degree above the average temperature for this season.
City residents who have ventured outdoors however, would have felt that the heat was at least two degrees more than the recorded temperature, as they have been exposed to direct radiation from the sun, said an official of the meteorological department.
Up until last week or so, regular showers in the evening were a respite from the heat, even though they did not help bring down the temperature. But now, the official said, the southwest monsoon has been lying low and with no clouding over the city, the mercury level has shot up.
Despite this hiatus, this year’s southwest monsoon rainfall has been good for the rain-starved city. Since June 1, Nungambakkam has received 333 mm of rainfall, which is over 50 mm above the average for this period. Meenambakkam has received 449.4 mm, nearly 138 mm more than the usual. On Saturday though, only seven per cent of weather stations across the State recorded rainfall.
Officials said the heat the city is currently experiencing and a temperature of around 36 degree Celsius was quite common in August and September, when the rains reduced.
Last year, the day temperature had peaked to 37.3 degree Celsius on August 3. The decade’s highest temperature was experienced on August 23, 2004 when the mercury level shot up to 39.7 degree Celsius.
The forecast for this week is that the weather will remain predominantly dry until Tuesday.
However, there may be an occasional shower due to thunderstorm and convective activity in the city and its fringes.
The department also forecasts rains or thundershowers in some areas of the city in the evening or night. The maximum temperature may hover around 37 degree Celsius until Monday.
