In a much needed respite from heat last couple of days saw widespread rains over Tamil Nadu. The 19.1 mm recorded yesterday is almost the monthly TN & PDC average for the month. While weather models indicated heavy to very heavy rains over South Tamil Nadu the heaviest rains happened around the areas bordering North and Central Tamil Nadu. Thiagadurgam in Kallakurichi district recorded 16 cms for the 24 hours ending on 12th morning. As the effect of the cyclonic circulation fades the Pendulum will now shift back to heat.
Before the pendulum shifted to rains Chennai AP recorded its hottest day of the year with 37.7°C on 6th March. This was the 3rd earliest instance of Chennai AP IMD observatory touching 37°C in a calendar year. A combination of suppressed atmospheric conditions and clear skies spiked the temperatures across many places in Peninsular India. Weather models indicate we are likely to see a spell of dry weather once again.
Parts of West India is already reeling under abnormally hot conditions. It is only a matter of time before Peninsular India also heats up. Weather models indicate parts of Rayalaseema region and Coastal AP is likely to see max temperatures cross 40°C. It is not unusual for Rayalaseema to see spike in temperature as we get to 2nd half of March. Anantapur recorded 18 days of 40°C or more during March 2016 with 3 days recording more than 42°C. Similarly during the year 2007 Kadappa recorded 43°C for two consecutive days during March.
As Rayalaseema heats up slowly its influence will be felt over the North Interior Tamil Nadu districts. Districts like Vellore, Tirupathur, Ranipet that border this region and see lesser influence of sea breeze starts to see temperatures rise. Over the next few days weather models indicate North TN may see an increase in temperatures. There is a good chance like early March suburbs of Chennai may also start seeing temperatures rise again. Starting from today as skies clear up we can see most places in North TN touch 35 / 36°C during afternoon.
The very good rains over the last two days would mean rest of TN may have increased soil moisture. These places will start seeing increase in temperatures as the soil moisture level fades away. But with a fresh cyclonic circulation seen developing the Pendulum could once again swing back to comfortable days for South TN. Weather models indicate South TN could see moderate rains return around middle of next week. It remains to be seen if rest of the state also benefit from reduction in temperatures during that time.