While several regions of Tamil Nadu including Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Kanyakumari have been receiving good rainfall, has Chennai got its due and will it get more during the current Southwest monsoon?
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre’s data on SW monsoon rainfall for the period June 1 to July 3, Chennai has received 40.9 (mm) of showers. The normal rainfall for the period in the city is 74.2 (mm). The quantum of rainfall for the period puts Chennai in the ‘deficit’ (-45 is the percentage departure) category. However, the neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram have fared much better.
While Tiruvallur has received 93.3 mm of rain, surpassing the normal quantum of 80.5 mm, Kancheepuram has also followed suit with 80.7 of rainfall, higher than the normal quantum of 77.5mm. Speaking to City Express, YEA Raj, Deputy Director General of Meterology and Head, Regional Meterological Centre, said Chennai usually received more rainfall during August and September rather than June and July. Hence, more rains can be expected in the coming weeks.
While Chennai on an average receives 45cm of rain during the SW monsoon, the average rainfall for the whole of Tamil Nadu is 32 cms. The average rainfall has actually increased in places like Chennai in the past 10 years, he added. On Friday, the city had almost all the areas coming under dark cloud cover. The day’s temperature stood at 34.1 celsius (Nungambakkam) and 34.0 celsius (Meenambakkam), which is -1.7 and -2.2 departure from normal. For the next 24 hours, the sky conditions will be generally cloudy. Rain or thundershowers may occur in some areas during the evening or night. Maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 33 and 27 degree celsius respectively. “Strong offshore winds from Westerly direction speed occasionally, reaching a likely 45-55 kmph along off the Tamil Nadu coast,” the MET Department said.
Tamil Nadu is considered a rain shadow region as it lies on the eastern (leeward side) side of Western ghats. The total annual rainfall is maximum over the south-most part of the state.