A depression over south-eastern Bay of Bengal that intensified into a cyclone has missed its date with the city.
After weather bloggers predicted a cyclone and possible rains for Chennai a few days ago, many residents had hoped for showers and cool winds to give them a break from the sweltering heat.
While the city may not see heavy downpours or lowered temperatures, a few odd showers can be expected, meteorological department officials said.
The cyclone, Mahasen, lay centred at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday some 1,230 km southeast of Chennai. It is likely to move northwest and then expected to re-curve northeast towards the Myanmar coast. The closest it will come to Chennai is on Monday, when it is expected to be 650 km from the coast, said an official.
“The city can expect very light rainfall on Monday or Tuesday due to the cyclone. An analysis of cyclones during corresponding seasons in previous years shows that they have only re-curved. In 2010, Laila came close to Chennai and gave us rain,” he explained.
The cyclonic storm is likely to become a severe cyclone storm and will most likely cross the coast on the morning of May 16 between Bangladesh and Myanmar, he added.
Even though the cyclone has stayed away, met department officials said the possibility of rains in May, has not been ruled out.
Many interior parts of the State have received rains due to convective activity, an official said, and the city too, could receive a few showers in the near future.
Temperatures though, seemed in no mood to dip, with clear skies making Saturday the hottest day so far this season. The Meenambakkam observatory recorded a maximum of 41 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature at Meenambakkam has hovered around 37-38 degree Celsius since Wednesday.
According to the met department, observatories at Nungambakkam recorded a maximum of 39.5 degree Celsius, Chembarampakkam 41.1 degrees, Kolapakkam 39.6 degrees, Sholinganallur 38.7 degrees and Guindy 38.3 degrees.
“The temperature is likely to go up further in the next few days,” said an official.
