Rain continues in Chennai, but IMD says intensity will ease
Chennai experienced another evening of thunderstorms on Monday, with neighbourhoods such as T Nagar, Mylapore, K K Nagar, Guindy, and suburban Alandur seeing ankle-deep waterlogging after 15 to 20 minutes of intense rain, according to The Times of India. Pedestrians and motorists waded through waterlogged streets as eastward-moving storms brought moderate rainfall for the second consecutive day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast another spell of moderate rain in the city and suburbs on Tuesday, with thunderstorms and lightning possible during evening and night hours. Temperatures are expected to stay around 35°C during the day and 26°C–27°C at night. However, the intensity is likely to reduce from Wednesday, with lighter rain spells expected as the monsoon revives over central India. The next round of rainfall may arrive in the first week of September, according to V R Durai, director of the area cyclone warning centre at IMD.
Tiruvallur may also see moderate rain at isolated places on Tuesday, with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph possible at one or two locations.
Causes and rainfall statistics
Durai attributed the rain to wind convergence, where winds from different directions meet and force moist air to rise, leading to convection and thunderstorms. He noted that a weather system over Odisha has been creating favourable conditions for this convergence, while a feeble trough along and off the Tamil Nadu coast in the lower tropospheric levels has been supporting rain activity.
Sunday's rainfall left the highest amounts of 5 cm in rain gauges at Anna Nagar West, Perambur Corporation Park, Korattur, Basin Bridge, Kasimedu, Tondiarpet, Tiruvallur, and Kundrathur, with 3 cm recorded in Poonamallee (Tiruvallur district) and Kolapakkam (Chengalpattu district), as reported by The Times of India.
Chennai's cumulative rainfall since June 1 stands at about 28 cm, roughly 1% above normal. Neighbouring districts, however, remain in deficit: Tiruvallur is 25% below normal, Kancheepuram 33% below, and Chengalpattu 65% below.
Temperature and outlook
On Monday, cloudy skies kept daytime temperatures relatively low, with a maximum of 33.3°C recorded in Nungambakkam and 32.7°C in Meenambakkam — 1.2°C and 1.9°C below normal, respectively.
While the immediate forecast points to continued rain on Tuesday, the reduction in intensity from Wednesday offers some relief, though the next wet spell could arrive in early September.