It came, it left the earth baking hot, the citizens running for respite, in the forms of juices and other hydrants. The ‘Kathri’ – the peak of summer which has bumped up the weather stats like no other – drew to a close on May 28. However, if you are expecting balmy days ahead, banish such thoughts from your mind, for at least another two weeks.
Deputy Director General of Meteorology at the Regional Meteorological Centre Y E A Raj says that high temperatures in the month of June is a normal phenomenon. “High temperatures could be the norm till June 10, following which the probability of showers are high.” Striking down the theory that this is not unusual, he avers that a similar trend was witnessed last year as well.
Looking back, the period was preceded by ominous forecasts that peak temperatures would touch 38 degrees Celsius. If one had complained about the intensity of the ‘Kathri’ heat in the first few days, they had no idea of what would follow, with the sun meeting the prediction easily; peak temperatures started hovering around 42 degrees Celsius in a matter of days. It stayed in the sultry forties for a couple of days in mid-May, thanks to a heat wave that hit the northern part of the State. A heat wave is a condition usually declared when the temperatures rise 4-5 degrees above normal. Raj says that the peak temperature of 42.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Nungambakkam last week.
The heat wave, in turn, was due to a pan-Indian phenomenon, caused by the build-up of atmospheric pressure over the Indian peninsular region. The condition was compounded by the strong westerly winds that were hindering the onset of a sea breeze.
Nights during this period too have been no less severe. While the mercury ranged between 26-27 at the start of the peak summer, it rose gradually to settle at an average 30-31 degrees towards the end. Clearly there was no respite in sight even at dusk.
The period, however, did have a silver lining from the skies. During the second week of May, surprise showers brought down the searing temperature, by almost four degrees. A similar drop was witnessed during the peak-end when this week commenced with a pleasant dawn.
