Even as several parts of Tamil Nadu continue to experience intense summer heat, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast rainfall across multiple districts over the coming week due to changes in the speed and pattern of westerly winds.
According to the weather department, rainfall is likely on Tuesday in nine districts, including areas along the Western Ghats, as well as Namakkal and Salem districts.
Theni district is expected to receive heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, while moderate rain and gusty winds have been forecast for Namakkal, Salem, Tiruchy, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts.
The RMC has also warned of heavy rainfall in Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts over the next two days. Rainfall activity is expected to continue across parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal for at least a week.
In Chennai, skies are likely to remain partly cloudy, with light rain expected in isolated areas. The city is forecast to record a maximum temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius, making it one of the hottest locations in the state.
After relatively mild weather conditions over recent weeks, temperatures have risen sharply across Tamil Nadu over the past two days. On Monday, 12 locations recorded temperatures close to or above 39 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperature in the state was recorded at Chennai’s Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam weather stations, where the mercury touched 40 degrees Celsius. Temperatures reached 39 degrees Celsius at Madurai Airport, Madurai city and Tiruttani.
Other places that witnessed severe heat included Vellore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Karur Paramathi, Tiruchy, Puducherry, Namakkal and Palayamkottai.
Despite the prevailing heatwave-like conditions, several districts received rainfall on Monday. Showers were reported in Tambaram, Ariyalur and Senji, while heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed Melmalayanur, Valathi, Thayanur and Eeyakunnam for over an hour.
In Chennai’s suburbs, rainfall was recorded in Pallavaram, Chromepet, Tambaram, Selaiyur, Mudichur and Vandalur. Ariyalur district also witnessed light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in Royapuram, Senthurai, Vanjanapuram, Kudumur, Nallanayakapuram and Perumandi, providing temporary relief from soaring temperatures.
Meteorologists said the contrasting pattern of intense heat and scattered rainfall is likely to persist across Tamil Nadu over the next several days.
(With inputs from IANS)
