Chennai sees wettest June in 20 years

City set to enjoy pleasant weather for two more days, with light showers and overcast skies

CHENNAI : 28/06/2016 : slow moving of traffic due to the rain. A scene on Thirumangalam-Ambattur Raod. Photo : K_Pichumani

June may end on a wet note with Chennaiites set to enjoy pleasant weather for two more days. What’s more, this is the wettest June in the past two decades.

Murky skies and light showers kept the day temperature down by five degrees in the city. On Wednesday, the weather stations at Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 30.5 degree Celsius and 30.3 degree Celsius.

Overnight showers had led to waterlogging in several areas and also uprooted trees in places like Ram Nagar and West Mambalam. Chennai Corporation staff members cleared waterlogging in places like CTH Road, Padi, Poonamallee High Road and Kodambakkam. According to the meteorological department, the weather systems brewing over the Bay of Bengal influenced the temperature, and brought rains to the city. An upper air cyclonic circulation prevails over west central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast. This, along with another upper air circulation, influenced the weather over many parts of the State.

S. Stella, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, said the weather systems would bring heavy rain in some parts of the Nilgiris district and ghat areas of Coimbatore district for two days. Chennai will experience a cloudy sky and a few spells of light showers till Friday. The maximum temperature will remain at 30 degree Celsius on Thursday.

Chennai has received nearly 140 mm of rainfall so far this month, making it the wettest June over the past two decades. The city had earlier recorded the highest of 136.7 mm in June 2010.

Weather blogger Pradeep John, who runs the popular Facebook page Tamil Nadu Weatherman, said rains may begin to decrease over the city from Thursday. However, the city may again start receiving showers from July 3 or July 4.

“Chennai received a monthly rainfall of 216 mm in June 1991. The city experienced its highest rainfall for June in 1996 when it received 697.5 mm. This June could join one of those rare years when city had received a high volume of rain,” he said.