Residents may have to wait longer for summer showers as the Meteorological Department predicts only a faint possibility of thundershowers over the coastal areas for the next two days.
According to the forecast, the day temperature may stay close to normal till Monday. On Saturday, the day temperature in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam was 36.1 degrees Celsius and 37.2 degrees Celsius respectively.
However, the ‘real feel’ temperature, particularly for those outdoors, may be more by three or four degrees Celsius.
Officials of the Meteorological Department said people who were travelling might experience more of a muggy weather due to high humidity and direct radiation. The nights would continue to be warm as the cloudy sky would keep the minimum temperature around 29 degrees Celsius, they added.
S. Balachandran, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, noted that interior parts like Krishnagiri and Salem had greater chances of having thundershowers than coastal parts, including Chennai.
Weather models show wind discontinuity line, which is a confluence of easterlies with the westerly winds, running through the interior parts of the State.
“Conditions are favourable for thunderclouds to develop. But, as of now, the southerly component in the winds is keeping the temperature from soaring beyond 40 degrees Celsius. While the south-westerly winds blow during the night hours, the city has mostly been experiencing south-easterly winds during the day for the past two days,” he said.0
Meanwhile, weather experts note that global weather phenomenon like El-Nino need not necessarily lead to a harsh summer.
While 2015 was a strong El-Nino year for Chennai, the city is experiencing the spillover of El-Nino effect now.
Y.E.A. Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai, noted that there had been years when the city experienced searing heat despite the impact of moderate El-nino and La-Nina factors.
For instance, in May and June 2003, the city experienced 25 hot days when maximum temperature peaked above 40 degrees Celsius despite a moderate influence of El-Nino.
On the other hand, there were only six hot days in May and June of 1983, which was a strong El-Nino year.
“We still do not have conclusive evidence to relate scorching summers to strong El-Nino factor,” Mr. Raj added.
