Chennai: The intense heat and humidity in the city and the suburbs on Friday made even indoor spaces feel uncomfortable as temperatures soared. Meteorologists warned that the hot weather could last for a few more days. On Thursday, the city’s Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 36.9°C and 38.1°C, around 2.4 and 2.5 degrees above normal. Humidity hovered at 60% throughout the day. The temperature rise was due to a change in wind direction over parts of Tamil Nadu because of the weakened weather system over the Bay of Bengal.
The IMD forecast city temperatures to hover at 37-38°C on Friday, while maximum temperatures may be 2-3 degrees above normal in isolated pockets of the state. Bloggers said the city’s suburbs might record a 40-degree temperature this year, while the temperature rise may last for at least the next five days.
B Amudha, Deputy Director General (Addl Charge), IMD, said the weather system over the Bay weakened into a low pressure and lies over the west-central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move north-northeastwards and weaken gradually.
Experts said the system pulling winds from the land caused a change in the wind direction over Tamil Nadu. Areas like north Tamil Nadu are now receiving dry and hot northwesterly winds, leading to a temperature spike.
“The city and the neighbourhood may experience a partly cloudy sky on Friday. Maximum temperature may be around 37-38°C and minimum temperature around 27-28°C,” Amudha said.
On Friday, most parts of the state recorded above-normal temperatures. Vellore recorded 40.6°C, around 2.5 degrees above normal, the highest in the state. Erode recorded 40°C, Trichy 39.1°C, and Tiruthani 39°C.
Blogger Pradeep John said the city’s Meenambakkam observatory could record its first 40 degrees, while the temperature in Vellore could cross 41 degrees.
“Dry hot northwesterly winds from Rayalseema/interior Karnataka would be pushed into north Tamil Nadu, reaching Vellore, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, west interior Chennai, and Tiruvallur districts. Temperature to spike for the next 4–5 days, particularly Friday and Saturday will be very hot days,” he said.