April thunderstorms bring relief to Chennai from searing heat

April thunderstorms cool Chennai's temperatures from 37.7°C to 26°C, providing relief from the recent heatwave.

A sudden spell of thunderstorms swept across Chennai and neighbouring areas on Monday morning, bringing much-needed relief from soaring temperatures and afternoon heat in the city over the past few days.

In what was the first April thundershowers in Chennai this year, dense cloud cover had transformed the summer skyline into a typical monsoon day. The maximum temperature in Chennai dropped sharply to 26 degree Celsius at 12 p.m. as the rain spell cooled the city. Chennai Nungambakkam recorded 32.5 degree Celsius, nearly two degrees lower than normal temperature at 5.30 p.m. on Monday.

The rainspell came as a respite, especially after the day temperatures had climbed to 37.7 degree Celsius in suburban pockets like Meenambakkam on Sunday, causing heat stress conditions.

On Monday, Erode experienced sizzling weather for the second consecutive day, with day temperature touching 40 degree Celsius. Various places, including YMCA Nandanam, Chennai, (5 cm), Neyyoor in Kanniyakumari district (3 cm) and Ramanathapuram (2 cm), Meenambakkam, Villivakkam, Puzhal and Nungambakkam in Chennai (1 cm), recorded rainfall till 5.30 p.m.

During the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district and Pullambadi in Tiruchi district received heavy rainfall of 8 cm.

V.R. Durai, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, RMC, said a trough extending from Telangana to the Gulf of Mannar had influenced moisture incursion and convective activity over the north Tamil Nadu districts. Thunderclouds extending from Ranipet and Vellore up to Kancheepuram triggered the rainfall on Monday.