Chennai Swelters as Meenambakkam Records First Hot Day of the Year

As the peak summer month begins, Chennai’s Meenambakkam recorded its first hot day of the year with the mercury soaring to 40.7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Other parts of the city also experienced scorching temperatures, with Nungambakkam recording a high of 39 degrees Celsius. According to weather blogger K. Srikanth, this April saw higher temperatures compared to last year, following a strong El Nino year in 2023. While easterly winds prevented temperatures from peaking, the humidity contributed to the ‘real feel’ temperature, Srikanth noted.

In north interior Tamil Nadu, April ended on a dry note, with many areas experiencing record-breaking temperatures. Vellore and Tiruttani recorded monthly average temperatures nearly two degrees Celsius higher than last year, while Karur Paramathi recorded the highest temperature in the state at 44 degrees Celsius. With the India Meteorological Department forecasting above-normal day temperatures in May, Tamil Nadu may experience further heat waves, although normal or above-normal rainfall may bring some relief from the scorching heat.