Two-hour spell of heavy rain in city
By Express News Service | Published: 06th August 2017 01:26 AM |
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People taking cover near Chennai Central, as heavy rains lashed across the city on Saturday | Ashwin Prasath

CHENNAI: Heavy rain battered Chennai on Saturday with the Meteorological department recording a significant amount of 3.5 cm during a two-hour spell. Several roads were flooded and motorists had to seek refuge as it rained heavily. The department has forecast isolated instances of rain or thundershowers in the city, especially in the evening, for the next two days.

The rain began at around 2.30 pm and picked up intensity very soon. Strong winds, which peaked around 14 kmph, accompanied the rain.

Asked about the reason, S Balachandran, Director, Regional Meteorological Centre, said the rainfall was due to a typical convectional activity.

“Favourable factors like winds and moisture in atmosphere enabled the precipitation,” he said.
Convectional rainfall involves warm air, which rises up, being cooled and then condensed.
This process eventually leads to rainfall.

The latest spell of rain adds to 172 mm for the southwest monsoon season (from June 1), which had been realised until Saturday morning.

The day also saw a considerable drop in maximum temperature (recorded at 34.8 degree Celsius), largely due to the presence of rain-bearing clouds.

The forecast for Chennai on Sunday is that the sky condition is likely to be cloudy, with maximum temperature expected to be around 37 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, there were overnight showers in a few areas in Coimbatore district with Chinnakalar (6 cm) and Valparai (5 cm) receiving the highest amount.

Devala (Nilgiris district), Naduvattam (Nilgiris), Kadaladi (Ramanathapuram) and Periyar (Theni) all got 2 cm rain each. The State has received 120.5 mm, instead of the normal 126 mm rain.