Residents are in for a disappointment, as the showers that have cooled the city and its suburbs over the last week are likely to take a brief break for the next couple of days.
This week, monsoon activity is expected to be subdued over many parts of the State, including Chennai. However, light showers over the city’s neighbourhoods have not been ruled out.
But city residents who are thirsting for water do have reason to cheer, as more showers are expected later in August. Meteorological department officials said the city is expected to receive its usual 13-14 cm of rains then, higher than what was expected in June and July.
Chennai though, has had it good this year – it is one of the few districts to have reaped the benefits of the southwest monsoon and to have had a pleasantly cool July.
Though the State’s overall rainfall since the onset of the monsoon in June is at a deficit of 19 per cent, Chennai and a few other districts in northern Tamil Nadu have received substantial amounts of rain – Chennai alone has received 13 per cent more than its average for the season.
This July, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam received rainfalls of 146.6 mm and 147.8 mm respectively. This is 25 per cent more than what is usually recorded in July. It rained for 11 days in Nungambakkam and 9 days in Meenambakkam in July, a bit more than their usual quota of a week each.
The last time Chennai recorded bountiful rains in July, was in 2010 with 156 mm , and in 2007 with 244 mm.
Officials said at least 14 districts have recorded deficit rainfalls, including Karur and Ariyalur, where rainfall fell short by 50 per cent. August’s rainfall is expected to bridge this gap.
Y.E.A. Raj, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, said several weak low pressure areas that had formed over the Bay of Bengal one after another, brought the showers over Chennai and its suburbs.
On Wednesday too, a weak low pressure area formed, but failed to bring rainfall here as it moved inland.
The department forecasts a maximum temperature of 36 degree Celsius on Friday and that surface winds may be gusty.
