Did you feel unbearably hot in Chennai on Sunday? Well, there was a reason for it. Sunday was the hottest day in the city with a temperature of 39.8 degree Celsius.
The Times of India reported that Sunday was in fact, the second hottest day in the last 20 years that has been recorded in April.
The reason for the rise in temperature is dry westerly winds that blew into the city as a result of a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal. The cyclonic circulation, which was moving towards the Myanmar coast at about 30 kmph, caused a change in wind direction which led to dry westerly winds till Sunday afternoon.
The New Indian Express reported that the meteorological department has predicted that the hot conditions will be prolonged during daytime. It will take about two to three days for the temperature to reduce.
The maximum temperature was recorded by the Regional Meteorological Department in Nungambakkam on Sunday around 1:15pm. The temperature was increasing from the morning according to the graph. Around 8:30am, the temperature was 31.2 degree Celsius.
The temperature did not go beyond 40 degree Celsius because of the sea breeze. Tamil Nadu weatherman posted on Facebook, “Sea Breeze saves Chennai from touching 40 C as moist cool air reaches deep into the city. The increase in humidity shows that sea breeze has set in.”
This weather is expected to persist till Tuesday. Chennai might record temperature around 40 degree Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. The IMD Chennai said that the temperature rise is temporary and temperatures in excess of 40 degree Celsius will be seen only in May.
However, Vellore was the hottest at 42.9 degree Celsius and Karur recorded a maximum of 43 degrees, while Cuddalore recorded 42 degree Celsius, reported TOI.