Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Chennai woke up to a pleasant and rainy morning on Friday as several parts of the city received light to moderate showers, bringing much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat that had gripped the region over the past few days. Residents across the city enjoyed cloudy skies, cool breezes and a noticeable drop in temperature after days of intense humidity and soaring daytime heat.
Northern parts of Chennai, including Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Kathivakkam, Wimco Nagar, Tondiarpet, Kasimedu, Ennore and surrounding localities, witnessed steady rainfall during the early morning hours. Areas near Parrys Corner also recorded showers, leading to cooler conditions across the city. The cloudy weather and sea breeze created a pleasant atmosphere, with many residents welcoming the sudden change in weather.
Chennai experienced morning showers on Friday, offering relief from high summer temperatures after a record 41.2°C at Meenambakkam on Thursday. Thunderstorms are forecast to continue, with a yellow alert issued for isolated heavy rainfall in several interior districts.
Weather observers say the rains are likely to make a comeback later in the evening as thundercloud activity continues over coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining sea regions. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai and neighbouring districts such as Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram are expected to receive rainfall at isolated places during the day. Kanyakumari district is also likely to witness showers.
The weather department has additionally issued a yellow alert for several interior districts, warning of heavy rainfall at isolated locations. Districts placed under the alert include Dindigul, Theni, Nilgiris, Vellore, Tirupattur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Ranipet.
Popular weather blogger Chennai Rains noted that thunderstorm activity had remained active off the coast during the early morning hours. The blogger stated that while cloudy conditions may persist during the first half of the day, temperatures could rise again in the afternoon due to strong heating. However, thunderstorms are expected to continue over interior Tamil Nadu regions.
Another well-known weather analyst, R Pradeep John, popularly known among weather followers for his “Red Thakkali alert”, predicted strong thunderstorms and widespread rain activity over Chennai during the early morning hours. According to him, the storm system that developed near Visakhapatnam on Thursday night travelled southwards towards the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh coast and retained much of its strength while moving over the sea.
He pointed out that Chennai Airport at Meenambakkam recorded a blistering 41.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday, making it the hottest place in Tamil Nadu. Though such high temperatures are expected to continue for a few more days, the present rain-bearing system is likely to offer temporary relief through thunderstorms, gusty winds and cooler conditions across Chennai and its suburbs.
With dark clouds continuing to hover over the city and moisture levels remaining high, Chennai residents can expect more spells of rain and breezy weather through the day.
