Chennai Weather: It’s been a week of hot spots in the neighbourhoods to the west and south as the heat has ratcheted up. We’ve seen 42.5 C in Poonamallee and Kancheepuram and 42.3 in Tambaram. On an afternoon like this, the fringes are well ahead of the city proper.
Why the heat spiked and how the coast may hold up
You can see it in the KTCC corridor of Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai and Chengalpattu where the morning sun has a way of overpowering any relief until the sea comes in. “Models show an early spike before a stiffer breeze by noon takes some of the edge off,” says Chennai Rains, an independent weather blogger.
In the heart of the city you’ll be under 40 C once the onshore flow picks up. But the suburbs, being a bit removed from the coast, will still be in the 40s for the next few days.
Where temperatures peaked on May 21
There’s no mistaking the divide in the numbers. Avadi put in 41.8 C and Tirur 41.6 C; Villivakkam was over 41. The airport was at 41.6, compared to 40.4 in the city. And then there’s the rest of the state. Vellore led the pack at 42.5 C with Tiruttani right behind at 42.1. In Erode, Tiruchy, Karur and Madurai you’re looking at 40 or more, so it’s not just a capital city problem.
More than 15 districts have gone past 39 degrees, the weather office says. Wednesday was a record for the summer in Chennai at 42 C, and we should expect similar conditions along the coast and in Puducherry.
IMD outlook and risk through Saturday
Don’t be too comfortable through Saturday with the humidity in play, the IMD warns. Then, starting May 23, they are calling for some heavy rain and 40-50 kmph gusts in places like Salem, Vellore, Dharmapuri and others.
We’ve had some rain, if you know where to look. Aranthangi in Pudukkottai had five cms in the last day. Karaikudi, Nagudi and Neyyoor all saw three.
Relief signals and what to watch next
For now, it’s down to the sea breeze and the odd storm. I’m told by Chennai Rains we can count on a small dip in the next day or two, with the core of the city held to under 40 by the midday wind. Evenings may bring a pop-up thunderstorm in the interior to cool things down. Vellore and Ranipet will be the hottest for the time being. Friday or the weekend could see a little of that in Chennai, enough to make up for the last couple of hard days.
Here are the key watch points for residents and commuters:
– Early forenoon heating before breeze arrives
– Suburbs likely to exceed 40 C again
– Inland districts to remain the hottest
– Isolated storms may cause brief, sharp gusts
– Any rain could quickly drop temperatures
Safety reminders
So do what the health experts say: drink up, get out of the sun when it’s at its worst and be on the lookout for any signs of heat exhaustion. If you have to be outside, make it first thing or later on.
It’s the same old tale in Tamil Nadu: a split between the coast and the interior. Let the sea breeze in and central Chennai is fine. Hold it back and you have Poonamallee and the rest of them running away with it.
Come the weekend, it’s all about the timing. A good onshore wind and some spotty storms here and there will make a difference. Until then, be smart about it – find some shade and water, especially in the parts of town that have already been in the 42s.
