Residents of Chennai and neighbouring areas will experience dry weather over the next few days as there is no sign of long-overdue rains.
On Saturday, the weather observatories in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded maximum temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and 30.5 degrees Celsius.
One month into the year, the city is yet to get its share of 2 cm of rainfall for the period.
However, according to several residents, though January and February were winter months, the days turned out to be relatively warm.
Motorists said the heat, during noon-time particularly, felt like a prelude to summer.
The maximum temperature in January this year hovered around the average of 30 degrees Celsius. Nippy nights were few and far between as there was no sharp decline in minimum temperature.
On Saturday, the minimum temperatures registered in Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam were 20.1 degrees Celsius and 19.8 degrees Celsius, just one degree below normal.
Officials of the meteorological department said the minimum temperature had dipped to 17-18 degrees Celsius in some places like Tirupathur in the interior parts of the State.
Coastal districts, including Chennai, remained warmer than interior stations because of the exchange of wind from sea and land.
Unlike north India where there is cold wave, southern parts have a mild weather. This year too, mild weather has prevailed with only slight deviations from normal temperature despite a drop in humidity levels.
Foggy or misty mornings have also reduced. The humidity levels at Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam were as low as 67 per cent and 54 per cent on Saturday.
However, it did not have much of an impact on the weather pattern due to lack of northerly winds. Though there was less moisture in the air, the prevailing easterlies prevented a dip in temperature.
In February, the temperatures may rise, an official said. The department forecasts the city will experience maximum and minimum temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius till Monday.
