On Saturday, D. Bharathi, a marketing executive, had to make visits to offices in Tambaram, Manapakkam and Nungambakkam. “The heat was so unbearable that by 12.30 p.m., I took a break at the office in Nungambakkam and left the area only by 3 p.m.”
The mercury hovered around the 40 degree Celsius mark on Saturday too with the Nungambakkam station recording 40.1 degree Celsius and Meenambakkam, 42.4 degree Celsius.
The early onset of the sea breeze though brought in some respite for residents who on Friday had to bear with this season’s maximum temperature of 43 degree Celsius. Friday was the hottest day so far this summer, a day when even the sea breeze was late in setting in.
R. Hari, a resident of Besant Nagar, who went to the Elliot’s Beach for a bit of fresh air in the evening on Friday, said that the breeze was very hot even as late as 6 p.m.
Last year, the highest temperature recorded in May was 42.7 degree Celsius. 2003 holds the all-time record for the hottest day with the maximum temperature touching 45 degree Celsius.
For Sunday, the Met Department has forecast a hot day with partly cloudy skies. The maximum temperature is likely to remain around 40 degree Celsius.
