CHENNAI:The abnormal increase in night time temperature, which is hovering at around 4 degrees above the normal, coupled with high humidity levels is having a killer effect on Chennaites. Mind you, this is just the beginning of summer. Hot Weather Season (March to May) Outlook for 2017 prepared by Earth System Science Organisation, which is an executive arm of Ministry of Earth Sciences, has predicted that all the temperature segments (maximum, minimum and mean) of most of the meteorological subdivisions in India will show increase in the temperature ranging from 0.5 to 1 degrees Celsius, if not more.
Chennai may fall on the extreme bracket considering the fact that the city has been ravaged by Cyclone Vardah, resulting in significant loss of green cover. At present, the nigh time temperature is worrying. For the past few days, it has consistently been above normal by at least 3 degrees. On Monday, the Nungambakkam weather station recorded a minimum temperature of 27.9 degree Celsius, which is 3.9 degrees above normal and humidity was 71 per cent.
S Balachandran, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, told Express that the abnormal increase in minimum temperature was a temporary phenomenon influenced by various local and oceanographic factors. Besides moisture, clouds and fluctuation in maximum and minimum temperature, the city being a coastal place is pushing the humidity and night time temperature to the extreme. “Also, it is a transitional period. The conditions will improve in a week’s time,” he said. D.S. Pai, head, climate prediction, Climate Research Division of Indian Meteorological Department, said the hot nights are due to clouding and the daytime temperature rise due to solar radiation.