City residents experienced the hottest day so far, this month, on Tuesday with temperatures touching 35.6 degrees Celsius in Nungambakkam.
For the third consecutive day, residents bore the scorching sun. The weather observatory in Meenambakkam recorded 36 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, for the second time this month.
It was an uncomfortable day for September especially after a few days of rains and pleasant weather over the past week.
However, meteorologists said, Chennai and neighbouring districts would escape a completely dry weather, unlike the rest of the State, with rains expected before Thursday.
The weather models indicate heavy showers in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram. There will be light rains in the northern coastal districts for three days from Thursday.
Y.E.A. Raj, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, said the city would receive rains similar to last weekend’s heavy showers due to local convective activity.
Rise in day temperatures occurred whenever there were clear skies, even towards the end of September.
Last year, maximum temperature in the city touched 36.8 degrees Celsius on September 3. Chennai recorded the decade’s highest temperature of 38.7 degrees Celsius on September 26, 2009, said Mr. Raj.
The southwest monsoon has resulted in good rains in the city. This year, Chennai has received 64 cm of rainfall so far. Of this, nearly 61 cm were recorded during the southwest monsoon, since June 1.
The meteorological department expects the monsoon to revive in the first week of October, in the State.
The department forecasts rain or thundershowers in some areas in the evening or night for two days. The day temperatures will be around 36 degrees Celsius.
