CHENNAI: Sunday was the season’s hottest day in the city, touching almost 40 degree Celsius. Significantly, at 39.8 degrees, the day was the second-hottest day in April in a decade. It was only bettered by the 40.8 degree temperature recorded on April 23 last year. According to the meteorological department, the prevailing hot conditions during daytime is likely to prolong. It will take two to three days for temperatures to come down.
Readings of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Nungambakkam recorded maximum temperature on Sunday around 1.15 pm. But, the graph indicates that temperature was building up right from the morning. At 8. 30 am, the temperature was 31.2 degree Celsius and in the next five hours, it steadily rose until it peaked at 39.8 degree Celsius.
The mercury level could have breached the 40 degree mark in the city, had it not been for the sea breeze, which acted as a moderating influence. “The sea breeze set in around 1.30pm. If delayed by even a half hour, the temperature could have further increased,” Pradeep John of the ‘TN Weatherman’ Facebook page said.
Big question is if the city experienced a heat wave?
As per the criteria listed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heat wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a place reaches atleast 40 degrees for plains. The other criterion says that heat waves are there when there is a departure of five degree C to six degrees C from the normal temperature. At 39.8 degree C, Sunday saw a marked increase in the temperature from the average maximum of 34.5 degree C during April.