Chennai: After a hot start to the day, several localities received short but intense spells of rain on Monday afternoon, accompanied by winds reaching 50 kmph-70 kmph. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall over the city and suburbs on Tuesday, and heavy rain (yellow alert) over Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts on June 12.Around 3.30pm, dark clouds loomed over many parts, followed by a sharp downpour in areas including T Nagar, Nungambakkam, and Perambur. Nungambakkam recorded 21.5 mm of rainfall, while Meenambakkam remained dry. Rainfall in other areas included Puzhal (16 mm), YMCA Nandanam (7 mm), and Good Will School, Villivakkam (5.5 mm). Lightning, thunder, and strong winds accompanied the rainfall.Earlier in the day, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam observatories recorded maximum temperatures of 38°C and 38.8°C, around 1°C to 1.5°C above normal.Meteorologists attributed Monday’s rain to a trough or an elongated region of relatively low pressure over north Tamil Nadu, supported by favourable wind convergence triggered by weak monsoon conditions and westerly winds.According to IMD bulletin, “The city and suburbs may receive light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning on Tuesday. Skies will be partly cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures may be around 37°C – 38°C and 27°C – 28°C.”Heavy rainfall (yellow alert) is likely to continue across north, west, and south Tamil Nadu till June 15, including Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram on June 12. An orange alert has been issued for very heavy rain over the ghat areas of Coimbatore and Nilgiris between June 13 and 15.IMD also noted that the rainfall activity may help bring down maximum temperatures by 2°C in some pockets of the state between June 10 and 13.Responding to a question on social media, weather blogger Pradeep John said, “There is a possibility of rainfall in the city for the next three to four days, after which the monsoon may become active in and around Western Ghats.”
