Mercury continues to soar, many parts in State may record 40°C

The effects of 2023 El Nino is still felt in Tamil Nadu, which is continuing to record scorching heat for the last two months. This is only going to get worse, with the Meteorological Department warning that the coastal and interior districts, especially north interior districts, likely to record around 40 degrees Celsius.

Under the influence of change in wind pattern over the sea, the State is likely to witness dry weather. The maximum temperature is expected to increase by two to three degrees Celsius in the next few days.

“Many isolated pockets in the plains, coastal and interior of Tamil Nadu might record around 37 degrees

Celsius to 39 degrees Celsius. The mercury level is likely to surge over north interior Tamil Nadu, including Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore, where the maximum temperature is very likely to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degree Fahrenheit) on March 29 and 30,” said a senior official with the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai.

The weathermen added that humidity was likely to be about 30 per cent to 50 per cent in the afternoon hours and 40 per cent to 70 per cent during the rest of the day, especially over the plains of interior districts. The coastal areas might experience 50 per cent to 80 per cent of humidity. Due to hot and humid conditions, discomfort weather is likely in isolated pockets over Tamil Nadu.

K Srikanth, a city-based weather blogger, said, “Peninsular India is expected to remain hot during the afternoon hours. The western part of Tamil Nadu is likely to witness soaring temperature for the next few days.”

Usually, the year following El Nino would be hotter during summer seasons, especially in Peninsular India where the night time temperature would be warmer than usual. As the State witnessed El Nino in 2023, summer started early this year.