Chennai: Residents on Sunday evening got relief from the sweltering heat as the city experienced light to moderate rain across various parts. Cloudy skies and cool, strong winds brought many residents out to parks and beaches.
Earlier in the day, temperatures had soared to nearly 39C, making it one of the hottest afternoons of the season. However, by late afternoon, dark clouds gathered, followed by intermittent showers that brought the temperature down to 33C, offering much-needed respite.
Residents expressed relief at the sudden downpour. “Initially, when the clouds became very dark, we expected a severe thunderstorm, but later we saw small pieces of ice falling with the rain and realised it was a hailstorm,” said a resident of Ambattur, G Fathima Begum.
“It was extremely hot until 3pm. Then, all of a sudden, the brief spell of rain gave much-needed relief to those commuting or working outdoors,” said a resident of Nungambakkam, R Kumar.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai, several localities witnessed moderate thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, reaching speeds of 30kmph-40 kmph. Areas such as Anna Nagar, Mogappair, Ramapuram, and Nungambakkam reported consistent rainfall around 4pm.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast similar weather on Monday. Light rain with thunder and lightning may continue in some areas, but overall, the city is expected to remain hot, with maximum temperatures hovering at 38C-39C and minimum temperatures near 28C-29C.
However, weather blogger Pradeep John said such spells of rain are uncommon along coastal areas during this period. “We cannot expect the rain to continue in the city,” he said.