Those days that define Chennai are here again. Though city residents complained of sultry heat on Monday, the first day of peak summer season, popularly known as ‘ kathiri ’, the weather observatories recorded nearly two degrees less than the average monthly temperature.
This month had a hot start to ‘ kathiri ’ when the mercury level soared to 36 degree Celsius and 37 degree Celsius on May 1 and May 2. However, there has been a dip in the day temperature since Sunday. On Monday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam registered 34.6 degree Celsius and 34.7 degree Celsius, respectively.
Normally, the peak summer days last till May 29. Cloud cover was one of the reasons for the temperature to drop slightly. However, residents would have experienced sultry weather because of humidity, said officials of the Meteorological Department.
The department forecasts that the mercury level will hover around 36 degree Celsius on Tuesday. There is a possibility of light showers in city due to convective activity, which follows a period of intense heat.While the weather observatory has recorded a relatively lower temperature, residents said Monday was more of a typical peak summer day and the real feel was more like 42 degrees Celsius.
“There may be a difference in the heat felt by people venturing outdoors because of the increasing solar radiation. The maximum temperature is recorded at the observatory under shade and ventilation to maintain equilibrium. This kind of temperature is felt at those houses with proper ventilation,” Y.E.A. Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai.
He said in 2014, the city recorded its first hot day when the mercury level crossed the 40–degree mark on May 15.
“We experienced light showers around the same time — between May 5 and May 8.”
This month had a hot start to ‘ kathiri ’ when the mercury level soared to 36 degree Celsius and 37 degree Celsius on May 1 and May 2. However, there has been a dip in the day temperature since Sunday. On Monday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam registered 34.6 degree Celsius and 34.7 degree Celsius, respectively.
Normally, the peak summer days last till May 29. Cloud cover was one of the reasons for the temperature to drop slightly. However, residents would have experienced sultry weather because of humidity, said officials of the Meteorological Department.
The department forecasts that the mercury level will hover around 36 degree Celsius on Tuesday. There is a possibility of light showers in city due to convective activity, which follows a period of intense heat.While the weather observatory has recorded a relatively lower temperature, residents said Monday was more of a typical peak summer day and the real feel was more like 42 degrees Celsius.
“There may be a difference in the heat felt by people venturing outdoors because of the increasing solar radiation. The maximum temperature is recorded at the observatory under shade and ventilation to maintain equilibrium. This kind of temperature is felt at those houses with proper ventilation,” Y.E.A. Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai.
He said in 2014, the city recorded its first hot day when the mercury level crossed the 40–degree mark on May 15.
“We experienced light showers around the same time — between May 5 and May 8.”
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